An ex-Butterfield Bank branch manager who stole more than $46,000 was jailed for 12 months in Supreme Court yesterday.

Mia Shawnette Butterfield, 37, of Wellington Slip Road, St. George?s, pleaded guilty to stealing $41,960.67 in Bermudian currency and $4,340 in American currency from the bank between September 2001 and January 2003.

In February, Butterfield initially denied the charge, but on the second day of her trial, she changed her plea to guilty.

Butterfield had been branch manager of the bank?s St. George?s branch and had acted as a relief teller when necessary.

In both jobs, she was required to hold cash in a cash box. An internal audit of cash boxes in January, 2003 revealed that approximately $35,000 in Bermuda currency and $4,340 in American currency was missing.

Another $6,900 was stolen by Butterfield with the assistance of the branch?s head teller, Joanne Outerbridge, between December, 2002 and January, 2003, Crown prosecutor Paula Tyndale said at the trial in February.

?The head teller was under the direct control of Butterfield,? Ms Tyndale said.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves sentenced Butterfield to 12 months for stealing the $46,000.

The maximum sentence for her offences is three years in prison.

However, at the request of the prosecution, Mr. Justice Greaves ordered that a second charge levelled against Butterfield ? for fraudulent false accounting ? be dropped.

Mr. Justice Greaves said time already spent in custody should be taken into consideration.