Suspended sentence follows charity theft

Posted by The Journal on Oct 31, 08 05:28 PM in News

A former Salvation Army captain, from Northumberland, who stole more than ÃÂ£33,000 from the charity and an Alzheimer's sufferer to ``rob Peter to pay Paul" has walked free from court.

Heather Wallace, 52, stole ÃÂ£24,700 from Kathleen Maggs, who lived in a care home with her husband and whom she had power of attorney over.

William and Kathleen Maggs

The ex-Salvation Army captain for Midsomer Norton, in Somerset, who now lives in Woodhorne Road, Ashington, took the money to repay ÃÂ£9,669 she had taken from cash donations given to the charity in order to pay off her adoptive son's debts.

Wallace arrived at Bristol Crown Court with a suitcase in preparation for being sent to prison after admitting four counts of theft between January 2003 and August 2005.

But Judge Carol Hagen said she was being merciful in handing down a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years to run concurrent on each count as well as 250 hours' community service.

Wallace, under her previous married name of Abbott, became a Salvation Army minister in 1998 and quickly rose to the rank of captain. She became friendly with Mrs Maggs after she started volunteering for the charity through her sister May Field's involvement.

In 2003 plans were made for Mr and Mrs Maggs to sell their house and move into Rosewood Country Care Home as their health deteriorated.

Soon after a solicitor was appointed to look after Mr Maggs' financial affairs while Wallace was given power of attorney over Mrs Maggs.

In September 2003 the Maggs' home in the village's Gladstone Street was sold for ÃÂ£83,000 and the money went into Mrs Maggs' bank account.

The court heard that over the next two years Wallace wrote cheques, withdrew cash and used a debit card to take money from Mrs Maggs' account. As well as re-paying the money she stole from the Salvation Army, Wallace paid off her son's debts and his rent.

The thefts stopped when Mrs Maggs died in August 2005, aged 84, but they only came to light in April 2007 after the death of Mr Maggs, aged 92, and the discovery that the ÃÂ£24,700 was missing from their estate.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk