A DUNGANNON woman who took advantage of a bank system glitch to steal more than £17,000 in one day, avoided jail yesterday after her sentence was suspended for two years.
Jenna Nicola Armstrong (29), from Drumreany Road, went on a spree and made 37 transactions from an Ulster Bank ATM machine on June 22 2012, when she realised that despite withdrawing money the balance stayed the same.
Prosecutor Michael McAleer told how customers who made withdrawals had the balance stay the same, and there was no record of any change to the amount in the bank.
Details of the fraud were only uncovered two years later by investigators for the bank investigating the glitch and possible frauds.
RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank were hit in 2012 by major problems following a software upgrade.
The single mother-of-one was confronted by the bank and said she would be able to pay small amounts, but did not repay the money owed.
She pleaded guilty at Dungannon Crown Court yesterday to a single charge of theft of cash to the value of £17,250 from Ulster Bank on June 22 2012.
Defence Counsel Mr Dillon said his client, who had a clear record, made full admissions when confronted by the bank.
Due to have a baby in September he said his client, who was a carer for her grandfather, lived on benefits.
Judge Paul Ramsey said the custody threshold had been passed, but took in to account her personal circumstances and the fact it was an "exceptional case".
Addressing the defendant directly, the judge said she had acted “very foolishly”, the money was gone and there was no restitution but said he did not think it was appropriate to impose an immediate sentence.
He imposed a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years and warned that the bank might "engage in civil proceedings".
