SHE stole from a York mental health charity to the tune of more than £20,000 while gripped with depression.

Now Anna Jakobsen-Lee has been spared jail after a judge said a prison sentence would separate a very young child from her mother.

At York Crown Court, Jakobsen-Lee pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft amounting to £21,326 during the three years and four months she handled accounts at York House, within the grounds of The Retreat Hospital in Heslington Road, York.

York House provides intensive rehabilitation and assessment for 28 patients who have severe brain injuries resulting in physical, emotional and cognitive problems.

Jakobsen-Lee, 30, of Garrick Close, Pocklington, admitted stealing £19,580 from petty cash and £1,745 from clients for whom she handled accounts.

Robert Galley, for the prosecution, told the court that the thefts – which Jakobsen-Lee said she had stemmed from depression because she was unable to conceive – were uncovered when she became pregnant and went on maternity leave last November.

She had sole access to the accounts and when staff gained access to the administrative spreadsheets, her deceit and theft were uncovered.

Mr Galley told the court that Jakobsen-Lee’s parents had since paid the £21,326 back to the charity.

Rob Casey, mitigating, told the court Jakobsen-Lee had been suffering difficulty with stress at work, coupled with problems in her personal life.

He said she also suffered a considerable debts; including two credit cards totalling £6,000, a £15,000 student loan, a personal loan of £10,000 and mortgage repayments.

“She didn’t lead a lavish lifestyle,” he said.

“She made a terribly wrong decision and she is deeply ashamed.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst, the Recorder of York, told Jakobsen-Lee: “You committed a significant breach of trust when you stole from your employers.

“It may be that you were under pressure but many people find themselves under stress at work and they do not resort to stealing.

“I have read about the turmoil in your life and your inability to conceive a child and ironically it is when you were off on maternity leave that your dishonesty was uncovered.”

He said the difficulty was that a prison sentence would separate a very young child from her mother.

Instead, he imposed a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and the maximum community service a court can impose, which is 300 hours unpaid work.