The High Life: Charity's IT Chief's Expenses Scam

An IT boss with a Third World children’s charity, who blew their cash on alcohol and expensive cigars at a luxury New Delhi hotel, has avoided prison after finally repaying the money.

Christopher Wiseman, 41, was employed by Mayfair’s Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, where he also pinched a laptop and three mobile phones.

He joined the charity - founded by billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn - immediately after leaving Battersea currency exchange specialists Halo Financial, where he stole an iPad Air, MacBook Air and other equipment.

“These offences each represent a breach of trust during your employment with these two organisations,” Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Stephen John told Wiseman.

“Your cynicism in stealing from your second employer is breathtaking, having also stolen from your first and you did your level best to brazen out your dishonesty during a hearing in which I disbelieved your account.”

Wiseman, of Woodlea Drive, Bromley used the Children’s Investment Fund charity’s credit card on drink and cigars while staying on an all-expenses work trip at the 4-star Sheraton New Delhi.

He pleaded guilty to stealing from the charity, plus stealing a back-up drive, data saver and usb stick from Halo and the judge also ruled he was also responsible for taking the iPad and MacBook after a short Newton hearing to determine the extent of his offending.

He stole from the organisations between July and December, 2017, but only repaid the £9,169 total in March, this year after being threatened with immediate imprisonment if he did not.

Wiseman was sentenced to twenty-one months imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to pay £1500 costs.

“It looks like on the very day the police recorded he had not paid the payment was made,” announced the judge. “I’m going to ask the police to check this and if I have been misled he will be back here and going inside.”

Relying on a bank statement provided by Wiseman the judge accepted he paid the compensation, but told him: “If it turns out to be wrong you will rue the day.”

Wiseman had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but eventually made partial admissions five days before his jury trial and the judge previously said: “He has tried to duck and dive to avoid or minimise his responsibility. He is a devious and manipulative man.

“Immediately after leaving Halo in no time at all he was dishonest in relation to the charity, taking equipment and making extravagant and unauthorised expenses.”