An accountant tasked with helping a charity pay its tax bill stole more than £26,000 from the organisation. Elizabeth Burrows stole the money from the Adur Community Gateway charity, based in West Sussex, when she made a series of unauthorised transfers into her own business account.

The mother-of-one, who ran her own accountancy firm, Hennessy Capital Analysts Ltd, from her home on the Isle of Sheppey, had been taken on by the charity to pay its tax bill and manage its payroll system. The organisation was set up to provide local food bank support to communities in the Shoreham-by-Sea, Fishersgate, and Southwick areas of the county.

The 28-year-old made several unauthorised bank transfers from the charity’s Metro Bank account to Hennessy Capital Analysts Ltd, between January 9 and February 11 2023. In total, she syphoned off £26,294.

Burrows, of Seathorpe Avenue, Minster, Sheerness, was charged with fraud by false representation and was given a suspended sentence at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on February 20. Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told the court: “The organisation was defrauded. It is a community gateway group of volunteer who help their neighbours with food banks.

“The gateway expanded, and a volunteer was unable to continue (the work they did). A bill had to be paid to HMRC and Miss Burrows was recommended (for the job). She was contacted, and it was agreed she would be paid £199 per month to sort out the HMRC bill and to run the gateway payroll system.”

However, after Burrows was given access to the organisation’s account to pay the tax bill, she started stealing money by transferring large cash amounts to her business account and then to her personal accounts. Ms Farbrace added: “The HMRC bill was paid in January 2023, but that was all she was tasked to do.

“The bill was £965, but £9,650 was taken. This was not noticed until February 2023, and Metro Bank was informed.”

Magistrates were also told that access to the organisation’s online banking system had been given to Burrows by a member of the charity. They received a code from the bank on her phone, which she passed to Burrows to allow her to transfer money to a new payee.

However, the volunteer had not realised the new payee was in fact Burrows, and the cash was being diverted into her business account. Ms Farbrace then told the court that Action Fraud had been contacted about the missing cash in March 2023. Sussex Police were informed, but the matter was passed to Kent Police due to Burrows home address.

The prosecutor added: “The Metro Bank provided some statements and the amount taken totalled over £25,000. She was only meant to pay £965 for the HMRC bill and take £199 for her monthly fee. Her access to (online banking) was removed.”

A meeting between Burrows and a charity representative then took place, and the thief made excuses that she’d made mistakes and would pay the cash back, but she never did. When that was questioned, she made further excuses as to why she could not pay it back.

In a victim impact statement, the woman who had recruited Burrows said she felt responsible for what had happened and that the incident had impacted the organisation and the community. She added: “We ended up being completely ripped off, and we are a charity organisation. I will find it hard to trust in the future.”

The prosecutor added: “The gateway was set up as a food bank and has now expanded, and it was set up to help the community. There has been an abuse of trust. She had responsibility for the payroll and used it for her own benefit. There are a large number of victims, but it was discovered fairly quickly; it could have carried on.”

The court heard the starting point on sentencing guidelines was three years for the offence, with a range of 18 months to four years in custody. Ms Farbace added: “You have to take into account her lack of previous offending and guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, and what the pre-sentencing report says to see if you have sufficient sentencing powers. You could decide to send it to the crown court for sentence.”

Defending herself, while often getting emotional, Burrows said she was sorry. She added: “I am truly sorry. I don’t remember some of the time, my mental state, well, I was unfit to do anything. During that time, my parents divorced, and I was trying to run my business. I didn’t know what I was doing.

“It doesn’t excuse it. I am sorry we are here. I tried to take my own life twice, but I was saved by a helpline and then the second time, I found my way out. My child will be two in a couple of weeks, a child I never thought I’d have. I’d been trying since 2022.

“I would argue I’ve been paying for this since the day of my arrest, my home was searched, and I was five or six months pregnant. I was scared. I had the baby and was thinking someone was coming for me next. I’ve made several mistakes, and I’ve destroyed my family.

“I felt I would be attacked in the street. I have a two-year-old to go home to, and my partner has stood by me. My mum has just been diagnosed with early-onset dementia; I am her capable child, as she has an autistic son.

“I am trying my best to function and try to be better right now. I can work hard and begin to repay (what I stole), that’s all I ask for the opportunity to do that at the earliest point. I am sorry we are all here. I want the hurt to stop. I don’t want it to continue to another court. I will pay it one way or another for the rest of my life; I just want it to end.”

Magistrates were also told Burrows had secured herself a job and would be starting that on February 28, if she wasn’t locked up for her crime. Magistrates said they felt there had been a breach of trust and the thefts had a big impact on the charity and the community because of her dishonesty.

As a result, they said the offence passed the custody threshold, but that they were prepared to suspend the term. They then jailed Burrows for 12 months, but suspended the term for two years. She was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation sessions.

Burrows was also ordered to pay the charity back the total amount she stole, which was £26,294, at a rate of £400 a month and will make the first payment within 28 days. It will take Burrows five years and six months to pay off the amount if she doesn’t increase her monthly payment rate.

If you are in distress, you can call the Samaritans free at any time from any phone on 116 123. Lines are open 24 hours a day. You can also email jo@samaritans.org