This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19164730#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Jessica Harper admits £2.4m Lloyds Bank fraud | Jessica Harper admits £2.4m Lloyds Bank fraud |
(40 minutes later) | |
A former Lloyds Bank worker in charge of online security has admitted carrying out a fraud worth more than £2.4m. | |
Jessica Harper, 50, had been accused of submitting false invoices to claim payments between 2007 and 2011. | Jessica Harper, 50, had been accused of submitting false invoices to claim payments between 2007 and 2011. |
At the time she was working as head of fraud and security for digital banking and made false claims totalling £2,463,750. | At the time she was working as head of fraud and security for digital banking and made false claims totalling £2,463,750. |
Harper, of South Croydon, south London, will be sentenced on 21 September. | Harper, of South Croydon, south London, will be sentenced on 21 September. |
At Southwark Crown Court, Harper admitted a single charge of fraud by abuse of position by submitting false invoices to claim payments. | At Southwark Crown Court, Harper admitted a single charge of fraud by abuse of position by submitting false invoices to claim payments. |
'A very simple fraud' | |
She also admitted a single charge of transferring criminal property, the money, which she had defrauded from her employers. | She also admitted a single charge of transferring criminal property, the money, which she had defrauded from her employers. |
Harper was arrested on 21 December before being charged in May. | Harper was arrested on 21 December before being charged in May. |
Antony Swift, prosecuting, did not open the facts of the case but said it was a "a very simple fraud". | |
He added Harper had already repaid £300,000 and was in the process of selling her house for about £700,000. | |
"That will be some £1m out of £2.5m that's gone missing," he told the judge. | |
Carol Hawley, defending, said: "She appreciates the seriousness and has made full admissions in interview. | |
"She understands perfectly well on the next occasion she will be facing imprisonment of some length." | "She understands perfectly well on the next occasion she will be facing imprisonment of some length." |
Breach of trust | |
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith granted Harper bail on the condition she stays at her current address, obeys a 21:00 to 07:00 curfew and hands in her passport. | |
Sue Patten, head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Central Fraud Division, said: "Jessica Harper has today been convicted of the type of crime the bank employed her to combat. | |
"The evidence in the case was clear and left Harper with little choice but to plead guilty. | |
"In doing so, she has admitted to a huge breach of trust against her former employer." | |
Lloyds is now 39.7% state-owned after being bailed out by the government during the financial crisis. | Lloyds is now 39.7% state-owned after being bailed out by the government during the financial crisis. |