A FORMER financial manager of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has pleaded guilty to embezzling almost a quarter of a million pounds from her employers.
Lynn Taylor, 56, who has been living in Portugal, admitted taking the money over the course of almost seven years.
She had been receiving pension contributions from her employer, which were being paid directly into her personal bank account.
Taylor said she had "got a little greedy" after trying it once and "getting away with it".
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Frank Crowe deferred sentence until next month for a psychologist's report.
He told her: “You have admitted a very serious breach of trust involving a six figure sum, used for your own benefit and pleasure and taking money from a charity is something the court takes very seriously."
Taylor appeared at court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to embezzling £220,331.12 from the Society between June 1, 2008, and March 13, 2015.
Fiscal Depute Aidan Higgins told Sheriff Crowe that there was an agreed narrative between The Crown and defence advocate, John Scullion.
Mr Higgins said that Taylor had started work with the Society as a chartered accountant in 1994.
In January, 2015, arrangements were being made for a new company pension scheme.
Lyndsey Jackson, head of operations, asked for existing pension information from Taylor on at least three occasions, both in person and via emails between November 2014 and January 2015.
Investigations showed that employer contribution payments were being made directly into Taylor’s personal bank account.
At a disciplinary hearing, Mr Higgins said Taylor was unable to explain how this had happened, but voiced concern that she might have overpaid herself.
She was unable to give an exact figure, and said that she had been stressed.
The Fiscal said Taylor stated: “I tried it once and got away with it and you get a little greedy”.
When interviewed by the police, Taylor told them: “I did it bottom line, no two ways about it, completely on my own without any involvement of any other person within or outwith the organisation.
"I am not going to deny something I did. It has totally destroyed my life and I am never going to work again”.
She told the police she really did not know how much she had taken.
Sheriff Crowe was told that she had repaid all the money taken, as well as a further £40,000 for the cost of the investigation.
Mr Scullion said his client was at a loss to explain her behaviour over the years.
She had, he said, been interested in horses and show-jumping and had overspent significantly.
She had psychological problems with post-traumatic stress.
She had sold the house she jointly owned with her husband and was now living in temporary accommodation.
The Fringe Society is responsible for the ticketing and marketing of the annual event, held in Edinburgh every August.
It was also set up to offer advice to artists and producers wanting to take part in the world's leading arts festival.
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