 A Kingston University student has been warned she may face jail after stealing over £5,000 from her part-time job at a Kingston cheque cashing shop.
Tefadzwa Emily Ndagurwa, 23, pleaded guilty to taking £5,517 cash from tills at the Money Shop in Castle Street, Kingston, between October and December last year.
Christina Smith, prosecuting, told Kingston Magistrate’s Court on 27 January that the student started stealing money after debts of £4,000 started to pile up during her initial period of study.
Ndagurwa, an MA student in Pharmaceutical Science with Management Studies, worked as a customer service representative. In a series of ten transactions, she stole money after customers' cheques had cleared.
After the thefts were discovered by a colleague running an audit trail, Ndagurwa made a full confession and was arrested by police, who discovered the equivalent of £963 in US dollars and South African rand during a raid on her house.
Sara Mitchell, defending, told the court that her client was “incredibly remorseful” and fully accepted she had breached her position of trust. She said: "She feels ashamed and embarrassed that she succumbed to temptation." Magistrates heard Ndagurwa sent Money Shop a letter of apology the week before the hearing and intended to pay back the money in full. Lead magistrate David Simms said that Ndagurwa had stolen "a serious amount of money from an employer" and warned her that all options, including a jail sentence, would be considered. She is currently on unconditional bail. Under Kingston university rules, any student jailed for 21 days or more is automatically withdrawn from the university. A university spokesperson said the university was unaware of Ndagurwa’s case and declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. However, she added: “The University will take a decision on possible disciplinary action following the outcome of the court case should this student be sentenced to less than 21 days.” The case was adjourned until February 17 for full reports to be drawn up ahead of sentencing.
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