Santander Manager Admits Nicking £180k

A Santander manager, who targeted the bank accounts of “mostly elderly and vulnerable customers” received a prison warning today when admitting her £179,900 fraud.

Customer account manager Charlotte Mills, 33, of
Titchener Close, Bicester, Oxfordshire was responsible for a four-and-a-half year swindle at the high street bank.

She pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to one count of fraud by abuse of position between June 30, 2015 and December 1, 2019, namely dishonestly making dishonest withdrawals from customers’ accounts.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Lancaster told the court: “The loss to Santander was one hundred and seventy nine thousand nine hundred pounds, that’s the loss.

“The fraudulent activity involved more by swapping and changing around customers’ accounts, but the Crown are not going to go behind that figure.”

Judge Benedict Kelleher told Mills, who was on video link at her solicitors’ office: “I’m sure you will have been advised this is a serious matter and you are at risk of a custodial sentence.”

Mills was bailed to attend court on May 21 on condition she continues residing at her Bicester address.

The sentencing range for the offence is three to six years imprisonment and Mr Lancaster added: “This is high culpability, bearing in mind the activity of the defendant and her position in the bank.”

Her lawyer, Mr Nadesh Karu, who successfully applied for a probation pre-sentence report said: “Ms Mills is of previous good character.”