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A New Zealand secretary who stole thousands of pounds to fund her globe-trotting lifestyle has fled to continental Europe from London after avoiding jail.
Nicola Fielding, 26, was a temporary secretary with the Italian sales team of the investment bank JP Morgan when she was convicted at London's Old Bailey last August of stealing $45,000, Britain's Press Association news agency reported.
She wept in court as her lawyer pleaded for her not to be sent to prison, saying she would repay some of the cash.
The judge agreed and suspended a 51-week jail sentence for two years, and ordered her to do 100 hours of unpaid work.
But yesterday the judge was told Fielding attended only one session of her community work programme, had missed 10 and had disappeared into Europe.
Fielding, who had been living in Shepherds Bush, west London, stole thousands of euros in petty cash brought back unused by executives from business trips to Italy.
The court heard she used the money to pay for holidays with her boyfriend in Turkey, New York, the Netherlands, Scotland and Ireland.
Her barrister Sarah Clark pleaded that the crime had been "too easy" and she was only exploiting a "culture of lacklustre accounting" at the firm.
Fielding was a "hard-working young lady" who had never been in trouble before, Ms Clark told the court.
She was told by Judge Peter Beaumont said she had brought "disgrace" on herself and family but yesterday the court heard the probation service last heard from her in November.
An arrest warrant was issued for Fielding - meaning if she returned to England she would appear in court.
Bank staff were given 500 euros for expenses on trips to Italy and returned unspent money to Fielding.
- NZPA
