Surveyor's Time Sheet Scam

A building surveyor, who forged time sheets and pocketed an extra £1,725 from recruitment specialists who placed him with a charitable housing association, was fined for his “opportunistic” moment of greed.

Matthew Tompkin-Kenward, 35, of Atlas House, 466 London Road, Isleworth, was on the books of recruitment specialists Morgan Hunt, of New London House, 172 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, who have branches in Russia and Dubai and pride themselves on expert headhunting services for leading global businesses.

They placed him with Accent Peerless, a registered social landlord, who have offices at Pembroke Broadway, Camberley, Surrey; Broad Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex and Stourside Place, Ashford, Kent.

He pleaded guilty to false accounting in that he dishonestly falsified documents, namely Morgan Hunt time sheets, with a view to gain for himself, between April 14 and 18 and April 21 and 25, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Neelam Sharma told Blackfriars Crown Court Tompkin-Kenward’s skills were employed as a maintenance supervisor for the housing association on a contract, which ran from July 2007 until April 11, last year.

“Accent noticed notwithstanding the contract had expired this defendant was still putting forward time sheets and was claiming for work,” said the prosecutor.

It’s quite clear what this defendant did,” added Miss Sharma. “He was given a bone fide time sheet and using tipex or some other alteration forged the next two time sheets.”

Tompkin-Kenward repeatedly cancelled meetings with Morgan Hunt to discuss the irregularities and was eventually arrested on October 27 when he attended a police interview.

He initially claimed the time sheets were genuine and reflected work he performed off-site at home in a bid to complete a project.

The first-time offender later repaid Morgan Hunt the full £1,725. He is now employed by another housing association on £630 p.w.

His lawyer Mr. Gregory King-Underwood told the court: “It was the heat of the moment.”

Judge Aiden Marron QC, fining Tompkin-Kenward £2,500, plus £765 costs, told him: “I regard this to be a rather opportunistic theft with a measure of breach of trust.

“You were very wise to plead guilty to these offences. It is out of character, you are a decent individual, but do this again and you will lose your liberty.”