A woman who admitted stealing £25,000 from her sister-in-law employer who was seriously injured in the Omagh Bomb to feed a gambling addiction has avoided prison.

Michelle Bowes (47) from Old Mountfield Road, Omagh stole the funds while in a position of trust on dates between September 1, 2021 and November 18, 2022.

Dungannon Crown Court heard the defendant was employed as company secretary at Omagh Music Academy which was established by Claire Bowes.

Claire Bowes was seriously injured by shrapnel in the Omagh Bomb when she was left blind aged just 15.

However, she continued in education to degree level before going on to establish her successful music tuition business in 2013.

She teaches piano full-time and employs tutors for multiple other musical instruments.

Claire employed her husband’s sister in a position of trust, bringing Bowes in direct contact with the company finances.

On an undisclosed date in 2022, she attended the academy in a very distressed state and confessed she had been stealing cash.

She handed over two letters confessing to stealing from the Summer of 2021 over a 14-month period to feed a gambling addiction for which she had sought treatment.

Police were alerted and on January 11, 2023, Bowes was interviewed by police confirming she had written the letters of confession and had been stealing cash.

She was unsure precisely how much she had stolen but confirmed she was the only person with access to the money.

The business finances were examined and an accountant identified a loss of £24,272.05 from September 2021 through to November 2022.

A defence barrister said the matter was confessed of Bowes own volition in writing, and when interviewed by police.

He pointed out she has no previous convictions of any kind and no further matters are pending. 

Bowes, he said has the support of her family who attended court with her although it was accepted her brother, who is married to the victim, was not present and that relationship has not been repaired.

It was pointed out full restitution has been made and Bowes is extremely remorseful for her actions.

Judge Richard Greene remarked: “A theft in these circumstances is aggravated by the breach of trust. The defendant was entrusted with the financial management of the business and abused that trust. There is a wider impact in that it was her own family she was abusing.

He told Bowes: “Criminal behaviour in any court has the impact of hurt having to be endured by victims, in this case, emotional and financial. Your theft of money that you and easy access to has created a schism in your own family that only you are responsible for.

"I understand your offending, which was committed over a long period of time, was because of your problem with gambling. It’s no different to any other addiction and the court is sympathetic to people who have found themselves in difficult situations from bad choices, but there is a wide support network for these instances. I don’t see evidence you sought help for yourself but instead helped yourself to money when you could have helped yourself to support.”

He continued: “This is a serious case involving the deliberate theft of money from a small business as it can really compromise its future and impact the lives and livelihoods of so many people.”

Allowing credit for Bowes guilty plea, Judge Greene imposed a sentence of 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.