Finance Chief's £215K "Revenge" On Boss

She Striped Her Employer: Carly Hughes 

 A female finance chief, who stole nearly £215,000 from a small plastics firm to spite her boss, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Carly Hughes, 34, fell-out with the owner of Arrow Plastics Ltd., 52 year-old Mark Wombwell and took her "revenge" by creating false invoices and transferring huge sums into her bank account.

"The only real reason she took this course was to get at Mr. Wombwell," her lawyer Nick Goss told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

"The two of them do not like each other.

"The money is still sitting there and was stolen as an act of vengeance rather than Carly Hughes wishing to enrich her life or to fritter it away."

She believed promised bonuses had not been paid and she had been overworked by the company.

The finance and payroll manager, of Pennyfield, Cobham, Surrey pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, namely the processing of fake invoices to gain £172,523.99p between October 15, 2013 and May 8, last year.

She also pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position in regard to a £583.33 salary increase on March 31, last year and transferring criminal property, namely £22,898.56 between October 29, 2013 and May 19, last year.

Hughes was employed by the company, based in Hampden Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, in a senior position until her departure last year.

It was only after she left financial irregularities were spotted.

Pocketed Money: Carly Hughes

Prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the court: "She was raising invoices in the names of other companies and then transferring the funds into her own account.

"The total loss is two hundred and fourteen thousand nine hundred pounds.

"For a relatively small company these were considerable sums.

"To keep the company afloat Mr. Wombwell loaned it one hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds and the next day the defendant stole eleven thousand pounds.

"As a result there has been a massive loss to the shareholders and the fifteen staff have had a two-year pay freeze."

When initially questioned by police Hughes made no comment, but during a second interview claimed £100,000 sitting in her bank account was the result of selling her house.

She had also enjoyed a £4,000 holiday to Mexico, another £1,000 vacation and spending sprees in department stores.

Judge Susan Tapping told the first-time offender, who has now moved in with her mother: "It is sad to see someone like you in court.

"You are from a good family, a decent background with a work history and you have thrown it all away.

"You grew to dislike your managing director and systematically took revenge for the wrongs you thought had been done to you.

"Your financial revenge was very personal against the managing director and by bleeding the company every month it was less profitable.

"Three times he had to put loans into the company to keep it afloat, loans you asked for."

Hughes has agreed to repay £172,523.99p.