Harry Potter author sues former employee for £24k

JK Rowling is suing her former employee for almost £24,000, accusing the PA of stealing money to go on shopping sprees – the BBC reports.

Amanda Donaldson worked as a personal assistant of the Harry Potter author between February 2014 and April 2017, before being sacked for gross misconduct. Legal papers allege Donaldson wrongly benefited to a value of £23,696.32 by spending on a business credit card and helping herself to Harry Potter merchandise – including a motorised toy train worth £467.56.

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The PA is alleged to have spent the stolen money in many high-end and designer stores, such as £1,482 at luxury candle company Jo Malone and £3,629 in cosmetic firm Molton Brown. She is also alleged to have bought two cats valued at £1,200 and spent £1,636 in Starbucks.

Donaldson has denied the claims, adding that Rowling had "not suffered any loss and is not entitled to damages" from her.