A DISHONEST Southend Council official has been jailed for helping herself to more than £44,000 of public money, intended to help the vulnerable and disabled.

Sharon Whitehorn, 47, of Westborough Road, Westcliff, diverted the money from a charity’s bank account into her own over almost five years she spent as a senior finance officer with the council.

Whitehorn was responsible for payments made via the charitable organisation Vibrance to vulnerable people in need of care and support.

When Vibrance ended up with more council money than a client needed, the council was supposed claim it back, or nominate someone else to get it.

Whitehorn alone was responsible for making such claims, but instead routed the funds to two bank accounts she controlled.

Jailing Whitehorn for 20 months, Basildon Crown Court judge John Lodge told her: “These offences were so serious, only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.

“I am quite satisfied you were perfectly aware once you had started the fraud, you continued out of greed and to provide for yourself.

“Even if you were not directly picking the pockets of individual disabled people, your actions would still have had an impact on them.”

When interviewed, Whitehorn claimed she started the fraud to help her sick mother in South Africa, though no records were found of payments to any South African medical institutions.

Whitehorn’s dishonest actions came to light at the end of 2014 and she pleaded guitly to fraud in March.

Her lawyer, Peter Clarke, said: “She accepts it became greed.

“She has accepted the totality of the case from the outset and has had to look at herself in the mirror.

“Offending has had a catastrophic effect on her life and future employment.

“She has to put her life back together, dealing with what she has done.”

Whitehorn was told she would have to spend at least ten months behind bars before being considered for release on licence.

Civic Centre workmates shocked at crime

SHARON Whitehorn’s former council colleagues were stunned when they learned the extent of her dishonesty.

The council’s fraud team was called in when concerns were raised, and an investigation uncovered the full depth of her deception.

She was suspended from her job after the investigation, and eventually sacked.

Simon Leftley, Southend Council’s personnel director, said: “The integrity and honesty of all council staff is vital and depended upon, particularly when those staff are in positions of trust and responsibility.

“This is a very sad case which has shocked many staff throughout the council, who knew and worked with Ms Whitehorn over a number of years.

“When concern was raised, immediate action was taken, which led to a highly professional, thorough and swift investigation by our counter-fraud directorate and HR team.

“The speed and professionalism of this investigation enabled swift criminal charges to be bought and this illegal activity to be stopped.

“While it is clear that we have been the victim of a sophisticated and ongoing deception from someone who has abused their position of trust, we have also felt it prudent and correct to review our internal procedures and those with our external contractor, to help minimise the risk of this ever happening again.”

The council declined to comment on Whitehorn’s sentence, but said it would be looking at reclaiming the money, with a proceeds of crime hearing set for November.