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Llandrindod Wells dentist jailed for £48,000 fraud | Llandrindod Wells dentist jailed for £48,000 fraud |
(35 minutes later) | |
A dentist "driven by greed" who falsely claimed almost £48,000 for work on NHS patients has been jailed for 18 months. | A dentist "driven by greed" who falsely claimed almost £48,000 for work on NHS patients has been jailed for 18 months. |
Jochemus Hermanus Venter, 55, charged for £300 crowns when all he did was fillings and also put in bills for non-existent work. | Jochemus Hermanus Venter, 55, charged for £300 crowns when all he did was fillings and also put in bills for non-existent work. |
Venter made more than 200 overpriced claims for both dental and orthodontic treatment at his practice in Llandrindod Wells, Powys. | Venter made more than 200 overpriced claims for both dental and orthodontic treatment at his practice in Llandrindod Wells, Powys. |
He had admitted eight counts of false accounting at Cardiff Crown Court. | He had admitted eight counts of false accounting at Cardiff Crown Court. |
The claims totalling £47,947.43 were made between April 2006 and July 2010. | The claims totalling £47,947.43 were made between April 2006 and July 2010. |
South African-born Venter had a contract with Powys Local Health Board to treat people at NHS rates. | South African-born Venter had a contract with Powys Local Health Board to treat people at NHS rates. |
'Sophisticated fraud' | 'Sophisticated fraud' |
The court heard that he would charge up to £40 for a sports mouth guard and then put in a £1,200 bill for orthodontic work. | The court heard that he would charge up to £40 for a sports mouth guard and then put in a £1,200 bill for orthodontic work. |
Prosecuting barrister Carl Harrison said Venter "regularly and systematically" made false claims for dental treatment. | Prosecuting barrister Carl Harrison said Venter "regularly and systematically" made false claims for dental treatment. |
"He claimed for treatment not provided and for higher band treatments than the ones he had actually done. | "He claimed for treatment not provided and for higher band treatments than the ones he had actually done. |
"He also claimed for orthodontic treatment when no such treatment was provided." | "He also claimed for orthodontic treatment when no such treatment was provided." |
He had sold the practice in 2008 to a dental company but continued working there, involved in mainly NHS work. | He had sold the practice in 2008 to a dental company but continued working there, involved in mainly NHS work. |
The NHS fraud service was finally alerted to Venter's scheme after concerns were voiced by the dental nurse and receptionist at the practice. | The NHS fraud service was finally alerted to Venter's scheme after concerns were voiced by the dental nurse and receptionist at the practice. |
Venter's barrister David Aubrey QC told the court that Venter knew that what he was doing was wrong. | Venter's barrister David Aubrey QC told the court that Venter knew that what he was doing was wrong. |
He said: "He was highly thought of in the community and was industrious and hard-working. Those who knew him could not believe it of him. | He said: "He was highly thought of in the community and was industrious and hard-working. Those who knew him could not believe it of him. |
"He has lost his good name and any chance of pursuing his career any further." | "He has lost his good name and any chance of pursuing his career any further." |
The court heard that the practice's annual income from the NHS averaged more than £350,000. | The court heard that the practice's annual income from the NHS averaged more than £350,000. |
The father-of-three was a school governor and had been well-respected in the town. | The father-of-three was a school governor and had been well-respected in the town. |
Venter asked the court to take 147 further offences into consideration. | Venter asked the court to take 147 further offences into consideration. |
Sentencing Venter to 18 months in prison Judge Tom Crowther told him: "This was a deliberate, concerted and sophisticated fraud over four years driven by greed." | Sentencing Venter to 18 months in prison Judge Tom Crowther told him: "This was a deliberate, concerted and sophisticated fraud over four years driven by greed." |
Claire Busby, a specialist fraud lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Dr Venter abused his position as a National Health Service contractor to defraud the taxpayer out of a substantial sum of money over many years. | Claire Busby, a specialist fraud lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Dr Venter abused his position as a National Health Service contractor to defraud the taxpayer out of a substantial sum of money over many years. |
"This was direct theft from an important public health service. | "This was direct theft from an important public health service. |
'Greed' | 'Greed' |
"He regularly and systematically made false claims for the provision of NHS dental treatment and has admitted to a total of 155 fraudulent claims, covering instances where either no treatment at all was provided, or substantially less was provided than was claimed for. | "He regularly and systematically made false claims for the provision of NHS dental treatment and has admitted to a total of 155 fraudulent claims, covering instances where either no treatment at all was provided, or substantially less was provided than was claimed for. |
"He made feeble attempts to justify his behaviour by stating that he believed he was not adequately paid by the NHS but this simply demonstrated his greed and self-interest. | "He made feeble attempts to justify his behaviour by stating that he believed he was not adequately paid by the NHS but this simply demonstrated his greed and self-interest. |
"Those who commit fraud, in whatever walk of life, should know they risk prosecution in a criminal court." | "Those who commit fraud, in whatever walk of life, should know they risk prosecution in a criminal court." |
The £47,900 has since been recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. | The £47,900 has since been recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. |
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