savings into a false account, received a three-month suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Jeanann Dorothy White, 26, of Northcliff Lane, Devonshire, was also placed on 18 months probation and ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

White, who had earlier denied 17 charges of theft and fraud at the Bank of Bermuda, admitted the 17 charges and asked for 33 similar cases to be taken into consideration.

In an earlier hearing, prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said the offences came to light when a customer entered the bank on August 12, wanting to withdraw money, but was told her savings were insufficient.

Insp. Duffy said while the customer believed she had more than $12,000 in savings, there was only $2,918.59 in her account.

An investigation showed White had set up a false account, using the customer's personal details. She then transferred the customer's savings to the account, and made several withdrawals.

He added that White, who had no previous convictions, claimed she had needed money to buy materials for an extension to a property.

But White's lawyer, Mr. Delroy Duncan, yesterday pointed out that White had repaid the money in full.

Mr. Duncan, who pointed to a letter from a bank supervisor, said the offence was totally out of character. And he said White's family had forgiven her for the embarrassment she caused them.

Noting that her mother, husband and sister were in court, Mr. Duncan said: "They have said they wish to stand behind her so she can get her life back together and support her two young children.'' He added that because White was young, an indirect victim, remorseful, and paid back the money, the case did not require a sentence that needed to send a signal to the rest of the public.

But prosecutor Sgt. Earl Kirby said White's offences can generally be termed as white-collar crime. And he pointed out that it took place over a period of time.

"This was not a one-off act,'' he said. "She was acting in the capacity where she dealt with an ordinary account that any citizen has and she planned to remove money from people's savings accounts over a period of time. From the evidence, this was done on a weekly basis.'' Sgt. Kirby said offences like those committed by White also undermined public trust in the whole banking system. And, he added, the court in sentencing must reflect the serious stance it takes against such activity.

"I hope from everything that has been said you now have thoroughly grasped the seriousness of this offence,'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis told White.

"I don't think I need to say anything more about the very good career in banking and other things you have put in jeopardy by what you've done.

"In this case, I will go along with the recommendations of the Probation Department and will not impose an immediate custodial sentence.'' Mr. Francis sentenced White to three months in prison suspended for two years for stealing the customer's bank book and 200 hours of community service for each of the 17 counts to run concurrently.