Doctors have condemned a practice manager who stole thousands of their East Kilbride surgery, forcing them out of business.
They say Jacqueline Rodger destroyed Greenhills Medical Practice and put them through "four years of hell" after embezzling £155,000 from their coffers.
They watched as the 55-year-old was jailed for 18 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday and released a statement a short time later, Lanarkshire Live reports.
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They said: "We're delighted she's been given custody as she put us through four years of hell.
"We never suspected Rodger as we regarded her as a trusted colleague and a friend.
"We had a very busy practice and she destroyed that. The money she took would have been used to employ another doctor and improve our services further."
Rodger admitted embezzling the money from Greenhills Medical Practice between April 2014 and February 2018.
She was originally charged with taking more than £224,000 between July 2011 and February 2018, but her guilty plea to the charge involving a reduced sum was accepted.
Defence agent Kevin Corr had asked Sheriff Martin Jones to consider an alternative to prison.
He said Rodger and her husband were willing to sell their home in order to pay back at least some of the money taken.
Mr Corr added: "She is terrified at the prospect of going into custody.
"She is a first offender and has significant mental health difficulties and various physical ailments."
But the sheriff told Rodger: "This is a very serious offence. You embezzled approximately £155,000 while employed as a trusted manager who was supposed to look after funds, and you did this over four years.
"Your culpability is high and the harm caused was significant.
"I do not consider that a community-based disposal would sufficiently reflect the gravity of the offence and have decided that custody is the only appropriate sentence in this case."
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