IT Expert Admits £62K 'Fraud' That Never Was

An IT expert had to admit a £62,160 fraud on world famous Moorfields eye hospital when a review revealed he invoiced for work in the name of an employee who had not carried it out.

However, Perry John Kennings, 45, of Wateringbury Road, East Malling, Kent, insists he completed the work himself and he was forced into the technical fraud due to the hospital's payment system.

A judge at Inner London Crown Court agreed and went outside the usual sentencing guidelines and conditionally discharged the married father-of-two for two years.

Jennings pleaded guilty to fraud against Moorfields NHS Trust between March 1 and October 31, 2015 by dishonestly abusing his position of technical delivery manager by submitting false invoices.

Prosecutor Mr. Alexander Agbamu told the court Jennings' company provided specialist IT services as an outside contractor and he was assisted by his employee Steve Gibson.

“He carried on submitting invoices to Moorfields, making it seem Steve Gibson was continuing to provide work, but he was not.

“A review of the invoices revealed the beneficiary was this defendant rather than Mr. Gibson. He claimed he was not trying to deceive the Trust and that the invoices would not have been paid if a name was not on the invoice.”

Jennings' QC William Boyce told the court: “He is skilled at IT. He is a high performer and never stops work and he was doing two jobs.

“Thinking Mr. Gibson was coming in he put his name on the invoices and continued doing the work. There is no loser, he's already performed seven to eight months unpaid work for the NHS Trust.

“He left that job, in his words to the police: 'A broken man' because he worked so hard for so long.”

Jennings says that not only was the work completed in the name of Mr. Gibson he has paid back full compensation to the Trust.

“The thought of him being separated from his wife and sons, aged nine and ten, has cut through this family like a visceral sword.

“It has been a complete disaster and every day has been agony for him.”

Judge Owen Davies QC told Jennings: 'I'm not going to send you to prison. You did do the work and the fraud is technical in nature.

“The identity was one you were not entitled to assume.

“You have never been in trouble before and it is very clear you are very talented in IT and well-regarded as someone who has made a great contribution to the lives of others.

“This case is so extraordinary.

“I'm sure the court will not see you again and that draws a line under the matter.”