COINCIDENCE and unreliable evidence is not enough to convict Tracey Gallienne of stealing £4,000, according to her lawyer.

The office worker reappeared in the Royal Court yesterday to face four separate charges of theft from her former employer, Havilland Management Ltd, between 14 February and 6 July 2008.

Crown advocate Chris Dunford had told the court that Mrs Gallienne, of La Brigade Farm, Brigade Road, St Andrew’s, took four cheques to be cashed but kept the money at her home until asked for it, or did not put it into the company’s petty cash tin.

‘She says the bank was originally going to give her cash in inappropriate denominations for a petty cash tin, then changed it,’ he said. ‘Is this another coincidence, or a complete lie on her part?’

Defence advocate Catherine Fooks said Mrs Gallienne’s behaviour might be unusual, but that was not illegal as she always planned to hand in the money. ‘It might not have been obvious, or proper, but it was not dishonest.  This is a criminal trial and coincidence is not good enough.’

Judge Russell Finch said he and the jurats would reconvene court and a summary would be given this week.

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