Woman charged with St Paul's stamps fraud

A BRIXHAM woman has appeared in court accused of a £58,000 collectable stamps fraud against her ex-employers — St Paul's Cathedral gift shop.

At City of London Magistrates Court yesterday Alison Robinson, 43, of Wishings Road, Brixham, faced charges of ordering the valuable international stamps on the cathedral's account but then putting them up for sale on eBay.

She was charged with dishonestly obtaining worldwide postage stamps, worth £58,289.15p, from St Paul's with the intention of permanently depriving the Friends of St Paul's by deception between January 1 2006 and June 30 2007.

She is also charged with fraud between January 15, 2007 and June 30, 2007 in that she dishonestly abused her position as an employee to make gain, namely £58,289.15 of worldwide postage stamps. No plea was entered and Robinson was bailed unconditionally to return on September 17 when her case is expected to be committed to Southwark Crown Court.