AN EVESHAM woman has been jailed for five years after stealing more than £250,000 from her employer.
Wendy Dillingham, 59, of Wisteria Drive, Evesham, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty last month to theft, fraud and false accounting.
Dillingham was employed as Company Secretary by Evesham based firm PPS Media Limited between 1987 and March 2014 and used her position of trust in order to steal money from the business and created false bank statements in order to cover the theft of £267,547.
In 2013 an internal audit was carried out and suspicion fell on Dillingham when she was unwilling to provide original bank statements. The dishonesty was uncovered and a £200,000 discrepancy in the accounts was discovered.
An investigation by West Mercia Police Economic Crime Unit revealed that Dillingham had abused the trust placed in her by her employer.
As a result of the impact of the financial crisis of 2008, PPS Media Limited, like many other businesses, was forced to make savings.
Dillingham, who was responsible for the company payroll, paid herself inflated wages between 2008 and 2013, despite claiming to have taken a £10,000 per year reduction, to help the business through the economic downturn.
She transferred numerous unauthorised lump sums into her personal account, withdrew money from cash machines, using company debit cards and used the company bank cards to make personal purchases which included luxury cosmetics, paintings, ladies clothing and luggage.
The 59-year-old was able to hide her dishonesty by creating false documents and providing false information with regard to the company cash balance.
West Mercia Police Economic Crime Unit’s Detective Inspector Emma Wright said: “This has been a long and complex investigation and I am pleased with this result.
“I feel the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime as well as how West Mercia Police remain committed to bringing those committing fraud and financial crime to justice.
“Wendy Dillingham betrayed the trust of a company who had employed her for 24 years by abusing her position in order to steal money from them.
“Dillingham will now also face proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to recover the assets stolen. This process can allow for victims to be compensated and denies criminals the benefits of their crimes.”
