A bank manager who stole £18,000 dodged jail after her lawyer said the financial giant was making as much in profits every hour.
Kerry Hamilton, 39, moved a vulnerable pensioner’s savings to accounts belonging to her relatives and friends.
She was a senior personal banking manager at TSB in Hamilton when the money was embezzled from 2013-14.
At the town’s sheriff court, mum Hamilton wept as she admitted the crime.
She resigned and the bank returned the money to the customer’s account.
Her lawyer, John McGeechan, told the same court Hamilton is now on benefits and would find it difficult if ordered to repay the bank.
He said: “The bank was bound to pay the money back into the customer’s account. TSB had profits of £172million that year.
“The money my client embezzled equated to 55 minutes of those profits.
“If she was made to pay this back, her children would suffer.”
Sheriff David Young told Hamilton, who is separated, he wouldn’t jail her because of the impact this would have on her children.
He added: “You were described as being in emotional turmoil for medical reasons at the time of the offence.
“While that does not relieve your responsibility, I must accept the effect it had on your actions and decision-making.”
Hamilton was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work and will be tagged for seven months.
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