Pensioner stole from bucket collections

A DESPERATE pensioner abused her position as treasurer of Oldham’s Air Cadets unit to fleece them of cash in a bid to pay off massive debts.

A court was told that 68-year old Patricia Yearn siphoned money from bucket collections donated by members of the public, and even stole weekly subscriptions collected from youngsters.

Over two years Yearn stole at least £1,500 from the organisation before discovery — but officials believe it was a lot more.

Sentencing her at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Maurice Greene said: “Young people gave up valuable time to collect money from the public. You abused your position by stealing that money.”

Judge Greene imposed an eight-month prison sentecnce, suspended for two years, and told the defendent, who walks with a stick, that had she been younger the sentence would not have been suspended.

Members of the Air Training Corps became suspicious after Yearn, of Broadhill Road, Stalybridge, became treasurer in 2009. She failed to bring keep financial records. An investigation later found she had taken cash from two bucket collections at Tesco supermarkets in Oldham.

After her arrest in August 2011, he phone messages revealed she owed in excess of £40,000.

Yearn in the past been before the courts for obtaining money by deception, forgery and obtaining credit when bankrupt.

Yearn, who pleaded guilty to theft, will be subject to a nightly curfew for six months in addition to her sentence, and was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Oldham ATC.


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