A GALA bingo cashier has dodged a jail sentence after stealing more than £1,500 from her work in a voucher scam to pay off her debts.

Susan Miller pled guilty to pilfering £1,501 from the bingo hall in Townhead between May 9 and October 6 last year.

The 42-year-old appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and was given community service for singlehandedly running a vouchers scam whilst she worked as a cashier.

The court previously heard that Miller, of Ranken Place in Irvine, was in charge of collecting money from bingo players and was pocketing their cash and substituting it with fake vouchers – stealing £1505 in just five months.

Fiscal Depute Stewart McMillan told the court that on October 6 last year other staff members became suspicious after the mum-of-two handed in a suspiciously large wad of vouchers.

It was quickly discovered that each of the voucher numbers was false and did not match up to any members at the club.

Miller was suspended at that time and investigations were carried out.

Police were called and Miller eventually confessed to stealing the money to pay off her debts.

Mr McMillan said: “She was asked about it by police and she said: “It’s all true, I can’t deny it.”

“She had intended on keeping the money for herself.

“She was asked why she carried out this fraud and she said she was in a lot of debt.”

Defending Miller, Peter Murray told the court she had a history of dishonesty stretching back to the 1990s, but said his client realised the seriousness of her actions.

He told the court: “She recognises the gravity of this matter and that there had been a severe breach of trust. She explains she had some financial problems at the turn of the year and had to take time off due to ill health.

“There was interest on these loans. The vast amount of her income was spent on repaying these loans. She made the very poor decision to become involved in this offence. She recognises the gravity of the matter.”

Sheriff Shirley Foran sentenced Miller to 12 months super vision, 180 hours community service and ordered her to pay £150 compensation as an alternative to custody.