A woman has admitted embezzling more than £5,000 while working for a national charity at two Aberdeen hospitals.
Pauline MacIntosh, 49, helped herself to the cash over a two-month period in an offence that took place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
She was working as a paid employee of the Royal Voluntary Service, a charitable organisation that runs shops, cafes and trolley services in hospitals around the country, including Aberdeen.
Appearing before Sheriff Graham Buchanan at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, MacIntosh pled guilty to embezzling the sum of £5,605.54 while employed as a senior service assistant with Royal Voluntary Service.
The offence happened between February 8 and April 18 this year.
It is understood MacIntosh carried out duties such as serving refreshments as part of her job.
Cash raised from the hospital cafes and shops run by the Royal Voluntary Service goes towards supporting the community work carried out by the organisation.
During her court hearing MacIntosh had her guilty plea entered by her defence agent Gregor Kelly. Fiscal depute Katie Begg said it was MacIntosh’s first offence.
Mr Kelly told the court: “She has no previous convictions, it’s a serious matter. The court will require reports, which she will fully comply with.”
Sheriff Buchanan said the sum of money involved was “substantial”.
Mr Kelly told the court his client had repaid £300 of the cash.
Sheriff Buchanan told MacIntosh, whose address was given in court papers as Cattofield Terrace, Aberdeen: “I’m going to continue the case to get a background report. You have to co-operate fully with the social work department.”
MacIntosh will return to court next month.
The Royal Voluntary Service and NHS Grampian declined to comment on the matter.
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