A charity worker who stole nearly £360,000 has been jailed.

Mary Booth pretended to make payments to international delegates and charity employees while working as a payroll manager at the British Red Cross.

The 56-year-old instead transferred money into her own bank accounts from the charity she had worked for 34 years.

Booth told Paisley Sheriff Court that she had taken the money to pay debts accrued from a gambling addiction.

Booth pleaded guilty to embezzling £359,551.27 from November 1, 2008 to August 31, 2015.

She was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Laura Mundell, Procurator Fiscal depute, said: “Mary Booth took advantage of being in a position of trust and responsibility to embezzle cash on a large scale over a number of years.

“We take such criminality very seriously and will not stop at prosecution.

“Proceeds of Crime proceedings have now been commenced to ensure profits obtained through criminal conduct are confiscated from those who do not deserve them.”