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Faversham law firm worker stole £1,370 from solicitors Davis Simmonds & Donaghey in Gillingham

A grieving widow caught stealing from the solicitor’s firm she worked for says she acted out of “desperation” after being hounded by bailiffs.

Paula Gray of Lower Road in Faversham stole £1,370.40 from her employer Davis Simmonds & Donaghey (DSD) in Gillingham as a “way out” on two occasions in October and November 2023.

Paula Gray from Faversham seen leaving Medway Magistrates after being sentenced for stealing from her employer
Paula Gray from Faversham seen leaving Medway Magistrates after being sentenced for stealing from her employer

At the 61-year-old’s sentencing at Medway Magistrates Court on January 23, prosecutor Debbie Jones outlined how the offence had occurred.

She said a professional witness had been used by the solicitors and was expecting payment.

But, when the witness said they had not received payment, the firm’s senior partner and co-founded Peter Donaghey, chased the accounts department of the firm which investigated the matter.

The bank statement appeared to show payment had been made but upon closer inspection, it appeared the account name for the witness had been misspelled.

Mr Donaghey began to make inquiries into this and the court heard how Gray had appeared interested in what was going on.

I rarely speak to defendants who are more ashamed of what they have done

The bank confirmed the money had left the account and Mr Donaghey wrote down the numbers of the sort code, when the defendant said: “That is my savings account, I must have been hacked.”

Mr Donaghey then asked her to check her account for the payment and she confirmed it had been made.

The court heard that the first theft was £960 and the second was £410.40. As a result, Gray was suspended, and her contract was later terminated.

On August 22, 2024, Gray pleaded guilty to the charge of theft by an employee.

At Gray’s sentencing, defending, Hannah Mirza, said: “I rarely speak to defendants who are more ashamed of what they have done.”

The court heard how Gray had “never been dishonest before” as Ms Mirza explained: “She [Gray] thinks a lot of her inability to cope and think clearly has come from grief.”

Paula Gray stole money from her employer Davis Simmonds & Donaghey in Gillingham on two occasions in October and November 2023. Picture: Facebook
Paula Gray stole money from her employer Davis Simmonds & Donaghey in Gillingham on two occasions in October and November 2023. Picture: Facebook

The defence solicitor explained how the 61-year-old’s husband had died in 2018, and from there, it “fell on her shoulders to pay all of the bills”.

As a result, Gray, having not worked for over a year, went back out and got herself a job.

The court heard how the day before Gray made the transaction, she had been visited by bailiffs who said her water would be cut off if she did not pay her utility bills.

Ms Mirza said: “All her utilities were in debt. She states she does not know why she did it except for desperation. She thought it may be a way out.”

The defence lawyer explained that at the time of the offence, Gray was in £40,000 of mortgage arrears with Lloyds Bank.

Ms Mirza explained how the first time Gray took the money it gave her “some relief” because she could pay for the water, but when she did the same thing, a week later, that was when the “horror set in”.

Hopefully you can put this rather nasty episode behind you and move on with your life

In response, magistrate Robert Gill said: “I think you are [on] the upper end of believable and we are absolutely sure you won’t find yourself in this position again”.

Gray was given a one-year community order of 200 hours of unpaid work, supervised by the probation service.

She was also ordered to pay back the remaining £568.29 that she owes to Davis Simmonds & Donaghey at the benefit rate.

The magistrate added: “Hopefully you can put this rather nasty episode behind you and move on with your life.”

After the hearing, Mr Donaghey said: “We were shocked by the actions of an employee in a position of trust.

“Our systems identified the issues very quickly and upon identifying the theft immediate action was taken.

“We also put in place immediately additional security measure as a result of the actions of Ms Gray which remain in place.

“We would like to thank Kent Police for all their help and support.”

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