A former legal secretary from Caerphilly in South Wales has been jailed for two and a half years for stealing nearly £80,000 from disabled clients.
Dianne Spragg, 48, wrote 65 cheques to herself or online shopping companies while working at Cardiff firm Geldards to fund shopping sprees.
Nearly £40,000 was taken from a scaffolder who had suffered a serious head injury while more than £11,000 was taken from a 76 year old man with a mental disorder.
Geldards have since reimbursed Spragg’s victims.
According to the South Wales Evening Post, Prosecutor Tony Trigg said: "A total of 65 cheques were fraudulently written. She said she stole to ensure she never went without anything she fancied buying.
"She said she developed the habit of shopping online for more than she could afford."
The court heard she had even plundered money she had collected on behalf of cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Adam Sharp, defending, said: "She was a legal secretary for over 20 years and feels an overwhelming sense of shame."
Spragg, of St Christopher Drive, Caerphilly, admitted fraud and possessing criminal property
Jailing her, Judge Thomas Crowther, said: "This was a gross breach of trust. You depleted the accounts of people who, through age, accident or injury, were unable to administer their own affairs.
"This money was not being used to feed hungry children but to see you never had to deny yourself anything you wanted."
