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Jessica Harper admits £2.4m Lloyds Bank fraud | Jessica Harper admits £2.4m Lloyds Bank fraud |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A former Lloyds Bank worker in charge of online security has admitted carrying out a fraud worth more than £2.4m. | 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. |
'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 last year, 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". | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. |