Woman avoids jail after conning Winsford MOT Centre

Samantha Snape, of Nixon Drive, falsified invoices while working as a secretary at Winsford MOT Centre between April 2019 and January 2020.

The 36-year-old committed fraud by abuse of her position, gaining £1,769.69 for herself at a loss to the business.

But appearing in Crewe Magistrates’ Court on June 17, Snape was told she wouldn’t be going to prison due to the remorse she had shown and having her newborn baby to look after.

Paul Ellis, director of Winsford MOT Centre, spoke of his shock at discovering a member of his staff had been stealing from his business.

“The discovery of the crimes Snape committed has had a serious and profound effect on my mental and to a certain extent, my physical health, as the toll of sleeplessness and worry took hold,” he said in a victim impact statement.

“Since the discovery of her crimes, my trust in everyone has been damaged.

“I want to believe in people as I’m eternal optimist, but now I have that little voice telling me never to trust anyone again.

Samantha Snape during her time at the Winsford MOT Centre

“To protect myself and the business from the possibility of such a thing happening again, it leaves that doubt in your mind about trusting others, but that’s something I’ll have live with.

“In practical ways I have had to make changes to the way the business is run.”

Paul added he and his staff felt betrayed and angry when Snape's deceit was uncovered as she had been someone they 'trusted implicitly, admired and respected'.

Magistrates took Snape’s guilty plea into account and handed her a 26-week sentence suspended for 12 months.

They said the sentence reflected her ‘breach of trust’ over a sustained period which had an 'impact on the victim' and a ‘level of planning’.

The sentence was suspended due to Snape’s ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’, remorse, and having a ‘newborn baby to look after’.

Snape will also carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

She must pay back the £1,769.69 in compensation, as well as £85 in court costs and a £40 surcharge.

Since the beginning of February 2020, Winsford MOT Centre has recovered fully from the losses sustained.