Manchester City executive who worked in club's hospitality arm stole more than £100,000

A Manchester City executive who cheated the club out of over £100,000 will have a court psychiatric report before she is sentenced - but has been warned 'all options are open'.

Fiona Barclay, 33, who was a business development manager for the Premier League champions, is understood to have worked in the club's hospitality arm.

She transferred refunds due to others and also dishonestly used a client's bank details between June 2019 and February 2021.

Barclay, who was later suspended and sacked by City, today appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, where she was due to be sentenced after she admitted fraud by abuse of position at an earlier hearing - with the total cost of the fraud £104,374.

But the judge Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said it was necessary to obtain a psychiatric report.

Barclays claims the fraud was a 'coping mechanism' as a result of her mental health issues, the court heard, and she's since received treatment at the Priory clinic.

The court also heard that she was 'in the early stages' of pregnancy.

Recorder Lowe said the court would be 'greatly assisted' by a report from an expert before passing sentence.

But he told Barclay, who cried in the dock, that an adjournment didn't necessarily mean she'd be spared a custodial sentence.

'All sentencing options are open,' he said.

'By putting this case back it doesn't mean there won't be a custodial sentence.'

The judge adjourned sentencing and bailed Barclay, from Falkirk, Scotland, for sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on September 21.

A City spokesperson said: 'Fiona Barclay was suspended immediately and subsequently dismissed when evidence of her fraud was uncovered.

Manchester City reported the matter to the police and have supported them fully in their investigations. No clients have suffered a loss as a result of Ms Barclay's fraud.'