Company on ‘brink of collapse’ after accounts manager stole | UK | News
A family-run business was pushed to the brink of collapse after its account manager stole (Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)
A family-run business was pushed to the brink of collapse after its trusted accounts manager stole more than £767,000 to fund a gambling habit, a court has heard. Susanne Redhead, who worked for Newcastle-based Pure Panel Management, abused her senior position to siphon off hundreds of thousands of pounds.
This put the livelihoods of friends and colleagues at risk in what was described as an “utterly disgusting” breach of trust. Redhead had been employed by the firm since 2010 and rose to become accounts manager, effectively operating without oversight within the accounts department. Her offending was uncovered in January 2025, when irregularities revealed she had been making repeated payments to herself, including £363,000 in December 2024 alone and a further £100,000 in the seven days before she was confronted.
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When instructed to stop work immediately, Redhead told her employer: “I knew this was coming. I’ve been gambling.”
An investigation later found that between November 2023 and January 2025 she stole £767,272 through 445 separate transactions.
Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, said: “When the office was closed over Christmas, she maximised this opportunity and completely wiped out the accounts.”
After she “took everything” over Christmas 2024, the court was told the company was plunged into the red for the first time in its history.
In a victim impact statement, managing director James Gillam said: “I’m so shocked and annoyed by what she’s done. She put the company on the brink of collapse and could have ruined many families lives.
“She decided to steal every last penny from the business, from the company that has looked after her for the last 15 years.”
Susanne stole more than £767,000 to fund her gambling addiction (Image: )
Mr Gillam said the company had paid for an expensive outing for staff to go and watch Newcastle United play in the Carabao Cup quarter final, including drinks and other expenses. He added: “The previous evening she had stolen £18 from the team around her.
“I don’t know how anyone could do what she has done. How she could come to the office acting normally while stealing nearly £800,000.
“We are her former friends. She has taken advantage of that in the worse possible way.”
“You have devastated colleagues who treated you as a close friend and trusted you implicitly and you have shattered their confidence and put the company at the risk of collapse.”
Penny Hall, defending, said: “Before allowing herself to become involved in taking money, she would never have thought she would find herself sitting in the dock of the crown court looking at a prison sentence.
“She worked for this company for a long time and was well thought of. She had a gambling problem. She started by taking a small amount and thought she could pay it back.
Helen Scorer, operations director at the firm, branded her actions “utterly disgusting” and said she had jeopardised jobs. She added: “She was part of our family and almost brought us to the point of bankruptcy.”
Redhead will be subject to Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings to try to claw back any assets she may have.
