A cashier at Nationwide who stole money from vulnerable customers to fund extravagant vacations has been sentenced to prison. Kelly Kershaw, 54, came under scrutiny from colleagues for her lavish lifestyle, including luxury holidays showcased on her Facebook page.
An investigation revealed that Kershaw, who had been with the company for 17 years, was making fraudulent withdrawals from elderly and vulnerable clients’ accounts. The court heard that she took advantage of her position at a branch in Caernarfon, North Wales, which served a significant number of vulnerable customers.
Following suspicions raised by coworkers, an internal investigation by Nationwide identified five victims who had fallen prey to Kershaw’s scheme. She would process cash withdrawals for clients but keep a portion or the entire amount for herself, totaling £8,605 in fraudulent transactions.
Among her victims were an 85-year-old man who had suffered a stroke, losing £6,300, and a 49-year-old man with learning difficulties who lost £1,400. Kershaw admitted to the fraud and expressed remorse for her actions, attributing her behavior to a compulsive spending addiction during the period between 2023 and 2024.
In court, Kershaw pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and was sentenced to 16 months in jail. The judge emphasized the need for a deterrent to prevent similar offenses, highlighting the breach of trust and impact on vulnerable customers. Nationwide reimbursed the victims, but a proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled to address the losses incurred by the building society.
