A former staff member of a petrol station and vehicle workshop faces jail after being convicted of defrauding her employer out of £21,000.
Hannah Brand, 32, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates Court to theft by an employee, with the offences taking place between April 2024 and February 2026, the Eastern Daily Press reports.
The court heard the owner of Aerolite Garage, Steve Parrott, found discrepancies in his businesses’ accounts in 2025, and noticed the books would only balance when Brand was not working.
Parrott told the court his business lost between £30,000 and £40,000 and described the fraud as “a serious breach of trust”, though Brand was charged with defrauding him of £21,000, the paper reports.
Brand’s defence team claimed a former partner placed her under duress to commit the crimes, adding that she was remorseful and intends to pay back the money.
A pre-sentence report has been ordered, with the case potentially going to crown court if magistrates’ powers are insufficient for the sentencing required.
