Deborah Swift, a 54-year-old woman described as a 'serial fraudster', has been jailed for the third time for stealing from two businesses. She siphoned money from a golf club and an equestrian centre, with her barrister noting her compulsion and that 'she knows she's going to get caught as she always gets caught'.
Offences at golf club and equestrian centre
Swift, previously known as Deborah Jukes, stole more than £5,000 from Haydock Park Golf Club in Newton-le-Willows, near Wigan, and over £20,000 from Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre in Tarporley, Cheshire, where she was employed as an accountant.
At the golf club, Swift was asked to handle accounts for a short period in 2023, with access to the safe and responsibility for banking bar takings. After a few weeks, the office manager noticed cash was missing. When challenged, she claimed the money was at home but refused to let him accompany her, accusing him of 'intimidating' her.
Attempts to cover up
At the same time, Swift texted a friend to borrow £5,000. A judge said this was an attempt to 'give the impression' she had the money, when she had 'clearly squandered it'. When she left the club, she took paying-in books and transaction sheets to 'thwart proper investigation'. She did repay some money.
In September 2024, while on police bail, Swift was hired as an accountant at the equestrian centre. Within three weeks, she began making unauthorised payments to herself, totalling £17,838, and overpaid her own salary by £3,639 between September and December 2024.
Discovery and consequences
After taking 'extensive' time off, a review of her hours was impossible as she hadn't logged them. A handwritten note didn't match CCTV or computer records, including a claim she once worked 33 hours straight. She also failed to make necessary pension payments and an attachment to earnings order, risking a £1,000 fine for the company.
When challenged, Swift claimed she had taken an advance on wages before admitting what she had done, promising to repay but never doing so. Upon arrest, she called the allegations a 'pile of s***e', claiming she had permission for advances as part of an 'escape plan' due to not liking the atmosphere.
The company's boss said in a victim impact statement that he trusted Swift 'wholly and implicitly' and spent months trying to 'unpick' the 'mess' she left, calling it 'financially devastating'.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Swift, of Gibfield Road, St Helens, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and theft by employee at the equestrian centre. She denied fraud and theft charges related to the golf club but was found guilty after a trial.
Her defence, James Heyworth, cited 'significant childhood trauma', PTSD, and alcohol dependence. He said she had 'accrued a significant amount of debt' but was not living a lavish lifestyle, surviving on benefits. He noted she had not addressed underlying causes and there was 'almost some level of compulsion'.
Recorder Kristian Cavanagh said there was no 'realistic prospect of rehabilitation', telling Swift: "You are ultimately a serial fraudster who takes the opportunity to steal from those who employ you." She was jailed for two years and eight months.
