Gemma Pearse, 33, formerly of Leiston, to appear before court suspected of fraud of nearly £20,000

A woman suspected of embezzling nearly £20,000 is due to appear before court.

Gemma Pearse, 33, formerly of Waterloo Avenue, Leiston, near Southwold, will appear at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Friday, January 26 charged with two counts of fraud against an organisation.

She is charged with fraud by abuse of position as chair of Knodishall Playgroup, with cash and bank transfers of £17,000 allegedly embezzled between January 1, 2017 and March 17, 2022.

Pearse is also alleged to have falsified accounts in the same period.