A mother and daughter who stole nearly £50,000 while working at the same pub have been warned they face imprisonment. Manager Stacey Byrne, 40, and barmaid Jasmine Holmes, 20, pocketed the takings over just six months at The Ram Inn hotel in Brandon, Suffolk.
The Fraudulent Scheme
An earlier hearing at Norwich Magistrates' Court heard how they repeatedly issued fake refunds through charge backs using cards that in fact credited their own bank accounts. Prosecutors said they were responsible for provable losses at the Grade II-listed pub of £47,416 between August 2023 and February 2024. The pair each admitted theft by employee and fraud by false representation at the hearing in August and were told the case would be moved to the crown court because of the severity of the sentence they could expect.
Sentencing Adjourned
Byrne, of Weeting, Suffolk, and Holmes had been due to be sentenced today at Norwich Crown Court. But the hearing was adjourned due to the death of Byrne's 12-year-old daughter, who was fatally injured in a road accident last November. Bob Pollington, defending her, said the tragedy meant that the pre-sentencing probation report on her was 'significantly out of date' as it was carried out before the loss of her daughter. The report needed to be updated to reflect her updated circumstances, and those of Holmes, he added.
Court Proceedings
Judge Nicholas Ainley adjourned the sentencing for several weeks to allow new reports to be completed. Byrne appeared emotional as the judge told her and her daughter: 'The matter is adjourned to July 6 for an addendum to each pre-sentence report. All options, including custody, remain open. Do you understand that?' The pair nodded in agreement as they sat at the back of the court outside the dock. They were each given unconditional bail.
