A SENIOR bank worker who used her extensive knowledge of computer systems and passwords to steal more than £130,000 from her employer has been spared jail.

Elaine Scully abused her position of trust as a personal banker at Barclays in Worcester Road, Malvern, by creating loans in other customers’ names and then transferring the cash into false accounts.

The 53-year-old, of Chester Place, Malvern, had worked at the branch for 34 years before her scam was uncovered in February last year.

Scully, who admitted 11 charges of theft and seven counts of transferring criminal property, was sentenced to 51 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, at Hereford Crown Court yesterday.

Recorder Roger Evans said the married mum-of-one will “pay for her stupidity in her older age” as she was forced to pay back £133,000 to Barclays using her pension.

Scully first stole from the bank to pay off her own debts then continued to create false loan accounts to pay off the previous loan.

She was finally arrested when auditors noticed a string of unusually large loans being taken out by elderly customers.

Peter Parson, prosecuting, said as Scully progressed in her career she was promoted to personal banker and given extensive training on computer systems and passwords.

Mr Parson said: “She was not just a cashier, she was able to open accounts and undertake credit checking for loans.

“She was in a position where she was able to, and unfortunately did, use that knowledge to the great detriment of Barclays bank.

“Having opened the loan account in someone else’s name she then transferred that money to a fraudulent current account so she could then take the money out and spend it.”

In mitigation Michael Aspinall said Scully was fully cooperative during police investigations and had not used the money for a luxuriuos lifestyle.

Mr Aspinall said: “I accept it was a breach of trust but the money was not used for high living it was always used to pay of the previous loan. It was almost a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Mr Aspinall read out an extract from Scully’s police interview which said: “I’m embarrassed and totally ashamed.

“Once it started there was no going back, I am a coward, I just kept digging and digging, I’m sorry.”

Recorder Roger Evans said Scully’s behaviour as a senior and trusted worker was a banks’ “worst nightmare” and was a major blow to the company’s reputation.

Passing sentence Mr Evans said he did not feel it was in the public’s interest to send Scully to jail as all the money was paid back and she had given a full confession He added: “These were offences you committed when you were in a position of trust as a personal banker.

“This is a very, very sad and unusual case and the gravity of your offending is considerable.

“Although there was a loss to Barclays Bank of £133,000 all of the money has now been recouped.

“The bank hasn’t lost any money but it will have suffered a blow to its prestige and commercial reputation.”

Scully will go to prison for 51 weeks if she commits any further crimes over the next two years.