Alexandra Gouveia was told she had committed a, “…deliberate and calculated betrayal of trust,” in stealing from her employers.

Gouveia also worked as a translator and adviser for the Portuguese community at employment tribunals and started a charity for immigrants seeking to set up their own businesses. 

The Royal Court heard the 41-year-old mother-of-two admit a single count of ‘larceny as a servant’ as she stole from her employer for just over three months. 

Gouveia started working as a bookkeeper for New Stage Building Construction Limited in April 2015 and charged the company £16 an hour for her services. 

Gouveia quickly became a trusted member of staff, but when she went on holiday in March the assistant manager of the firm, Miss Marina Fernandes, began to inspect the accounts. 

Crown Advocate Conrad Yates said: “Miss Fernandes noticed a transfer of approximately £1,000 to the defendant’s personal bank account. As this was a large and unusual transfer Marina Fernandes conducted a more thorough review of the accounts.”

After she was arrested in April, Gouveia produced a printed sheet of paper detailing 38 transactions totalling £30,761.51 and cooperated fully with police.

Crown Advocate Yates said: “The defendant told interviewing officers that since September 2015 she needed to raise £50,000 by the end of March 2016. She declined to disclose what the funds were for or where they would be spent. 

“She claimed she had been unsuccessful in raising funds and had decided in December 2015 to transfer money from New Stage to her own account. 

“She told police she had spent the money but refused to provide any details about why she needed it.

“Gouveia is in debt, as is indicated by credit card repayments and loan repayments. Payments to two local debt collectors have been made in 2015 indicating that the defendant was not servicing her debts well. 

“None of the monies remain. The monies have been spent or utilised by the defendant.

“The theft was a deliberate and calculated betrayal of trust and the stealing was high, around £7,500 per month. She has brought disgrace and hardship on her family. She has also made no attempt to repay the monies despite being in employment, earning a comfortable wage.”

The Crown Advocate said a suitable punishment would be two years in jail, plus an order for Gouveia to be disqualified from being a company director. 

Defending Advocate Jane Grace said Gouveia’s stealing “was not a sophisticated scheme.”

She added: “There was no attempt to cover her tracks. It was a straightforward larceny which was easily discovered. She made a detailed record of money she had taken and she intended to admit to her wrongdoing and repay it once she had secured a loan. 

“Her co-operation with the police was exceptional and it did assist in their enquiries.

“The degree of hardship suffered by her daughter if she is incarcerated is exceptional. She also does voluntary work for the Portuguese community in Jersey and set up a charity in 2012 called the Jersey Portuguese Events Committee. She was highly regarded by all who dealt with her. The defendant has been tireless and devoted in her pursuing her aims for integration and has done it voluntarily.

“She fully intends to repay the monies owed as soon as she is able.”

Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq said Gouveia showed a “total disregard for the trust your employer had in you.”

In sentencing Gouveia to 18 months in prison, he added: “You have declined to say why you needed the money but it appears it was used on daily living expenses. This failure to explain is a concern and cannot give you any mitigation. You are of previous good character and you have shown genuine remorse and you pleaded guilty very early to the charges. You were also cooperative with the authorities.

“You have given very significant service to the community and we take that into account. It is a pity you did not think of the effect this would have on your daughter when you embarked on this course of offending. 

“The clear policy of this court, except in exceptional circumstances, is that a custodial sentence is almost inevitable. Because of some of the strong mitigation in your favour we will reduce the sentence indicated from the crown’s conclusions and you will face a period of 18 months imprisonment.”

The Deputy Bailiff made no order for compensation to New Stage, but banned Gouveia from any company directorships for five years.