Lloyds worker gets five year sentence for fraud
A former employee of Lloyds Bank who was in charge of online security has been sentenced to five years in jail after committing fraud while working at the bank.
A former employee of Lloyds Bank who was in charge of online security has been sentenced to five years in jail after committing fraud while working at the bank.
50-year-old Jessica Harper, of South Croydon, London, admitted to filing 93 false and doctored invoices in order to claim payments totalling £2.46m between 2007 and 2011.
Of the fraudulent earnings, she gave considerable amounts to unwitting family and friends to making property investments.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Ironically, Harper's role at the bank had been focused on tackling fraud at the bank.
She told the court she believed she deserved the money because of the hours she was putting in at the company. At the time she had been earning £60,000 a year at the time. Harper has a history of charity fundraising, and was given references by both a local school and Croydon Council.
Handing down the sentence, Judge Deborah Taylor told Harper: "You were a senior employee in the bank in a position with a high degree of trust at a time when Lloyds was substantially supported by a lot of taxpayers' money following difficulties sustained by the bank in the financial crisis.
"You disregarded your duties out of a sense of entitlement to take other people's money for your own benefit and that of your family."
The defendant has todate repaid £709,000.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.
-
What is the 25x retirement rule and does it work?
The 25x retirement rule has been around for decades but many experts question if it is a suitable strategy
-
When is the self-assessment tax return deadline?
If you are self-employed, rent out a property or earn income from savings or investments, you may need to complete a self-assessment tax return. We run through the deadlines you need to know about