Bank teller in bogus hold-up

May 15 2008

A FORMER teller in an Uddingston bank was sentenced to 300 hours’ community service this week for stealing money from her employers.

Nicola Chung (20), and her boyfriend Kevin Connolly (27), who now live in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, had hatched a bogus hold-up scheme after falling behind on the rent in their Uddingston flat.

Last month the couple admitted a charge of stealing £2000 from the Bank of Scotland in Uddingston Main Street.

Connolly walked into the branch and handed his girlfriend a written demand for £2000 which she counted out.

After waiting 10 minutes she raised the alarm.

The ruse failed after one of Chung’s colleagues — who recognised Connolly as Chung’s boyfriend — told police she had seen him in the building minutes before the robbery.

When the couple’s flat in Uddingston’s Calderpark Terrace was raided, it emerged that Connolly had moved £1100 into his landlord’s bank account and put £900 in a friend’s flat.

Connolly, who later helped police with the recovery of the cash, was also sentenced to 300 hours’ community service at Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday (Wednesday), for his role in the crime.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Frank Pieri told the pair: “As has been pointed out here this case involved a breach of trust by Miss Chung.

“On the other hand it seems to me the plan was doomed to failure from the off.

“It was carried out with startling ineptitude.

“We are not dealing here with Bonnie and Clyde.”

Chung’s advocate told Sheriff Pieri that Ms Chung had lost a secure job as a result of her actions and pension benefits.

He pointed out that she had obtained employment after leaving the bank, but was dismissed when the offence came to light.

The lawyer insisted that the crime was a “one-off” to pay the rent and Chung was at low-risk of re-offending.

Connolly’s lawyer said at the time of the offence the accused had been under a lot of emotional pressure.

His father had been in hospital and subsequently died.

She stressed that he was currently in employment and was also at low risk of re-offending.

Like Chung, she said, Connolly was a first offender.

The lawyer further pointed out that Connolly had earlier wanted to take sole responsibility for the matter before the court, but this had been turned down by the Crown.