A woman employed by a church avoided imprisonment for embezzling nearly £100,000 that was intended to support homeless individuals and food banks. Francisca Yawson, aged 37, was criticized by a judge for potentially causing children to go hungry while living a lavish lifestyle with the stolen money.
Yawson, who served as a gift aid and operations technician for the Diocese of Westminster division of the Roman Catholic Church from September 2018 to August 2019, admitted to making nine unauthorized bank transfers to herself. She pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft and recently received a two-year suspended prison sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge Mark Weekes condemned Yawson for dishonestly funding her lifestyle at the expense of those in need, stating that the stolen funds could have significantly aided the homeless and families reliant on food banks. He expressed disappointment over the prolonged investigation period, which led to a delayed resolution in the case.
The judge emphasized that Yawson’s actions would have likely resulted in a prison sentence if she had been sentenced earlier, highlighting her fortunate timing in avoiding immediate incarceration. He urged her to contemplate the negative impact of her actions on less fortunate individuals.
Nicholas Seed, the chief financial officer of the diocese, expressed dismay over the theft, noting that the money could have made a substantial difference in supporting vulnerable communities. Yawson’s thefts ranged from small amounts to a single transfer of nearly £20,000, totaling over £96,000.
Prosecutors revealed that Yawson manipulated the diocese’s records to conceal her illicit activities, but the transactions were traced back to her personal accounts. Yawson, a resident of Stonebridge Park in Brent, London, admitted to using the embezzled funds for everyday expenses and to assist her ailing grandmother in Jamaica.
In her defense, Yawson’s legal representative, Ryan Evans, explained that she had lost her job and was now reliant on universal credit. He highlighted the emotional strain Yawson experienced during the legal proceedings, especially while caring for her newborn child.
As part of her sentence, Judge Weekes ordered Yawson to pay a fine, complete unpaid community work, and undergo a rehabilitation program to address her actions.
