Mum-of-two Samantha Jane O’Sullivan, 57, made a total of 170 fraudulent transactions, directing the charity’s money to her own bank account while employed as Head of Finance.
She is now starting a new sentence of three years and eight months imprisonment for taking money splurged on foreign holidays, electrical goods and the student costs of her children.
Divorce O’Sullivan, of 96 Mill Green, Mitcham pleaded guilty that between July 1, 2016 and October 31, 2023, committed fraud by abuse of trust with intent to make a gain, namely money transferred to her bank account.
One trip was to the five-star Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort on Cape Verde amongst holidays to Dubai, Lisbon, Barcelona and Split.
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) were forced to launch a private prosecution after Action Fraud failed to act, despite a proven loss of £307,414.28p.
Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard O’Sullivan was employed by the trust in 2013 and quickly promoted, but from 2016 on added her own bank details to invoices the PRT paid out.
The trust employed her despite knowing she had received twelve months imprisonment in December, 2012 for a fraud committed while employed as deputy official receiver of Croydon.
On that occasion she pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud, by abuse of position, defrauding £85,000 from people facing bankruptcy.
Some of the money was blown on a Far East holiday to Cambodia and furnishing her home.
O’Sullivan served three months behind bars and then applied for her role with the PRT on her release.
Speaking from the dock yesterday, she told Judge Simon Heptonstall: “I am not sure what is appropriate to say.
“I am so sorry to all those affected by my actions.
“I never recovered from my actions in 2012. I lost my home and did not realise how difficult it would be to start from scratch at my age.
“Instead of focusing on my mental health I was anxious to obtain work when I was released from prison in 2013.
“I did not lie about my conviction and they gave me a chance and I worked hard.
“I was often under the spotlight as a former prisoner handed a responsible role, which I did not find comfortable and felt that the fact I had been to prison would always define me.
“I did not have the resilience or guts to make steady progress.
“My children took precedence over everything else.
“I had failed as a parent and panicked and made terrible decision after terrible decision and thought I would make up for parental mistakes, but made new ones.”
Her former home was seized to repay the first fraud and O’Sullivan claims she found it impossible to even get a phone contract and had to pay for her children’s student accommodation up front.
“I was shocked by the total amount of the fraud and the time frame, although any amount is a gross betrayal of trust,” she told the court.”
When she leaves prison O’Sullivan says she will devote herself to the care of her ailing mother, if she is still alive and will never seek paid employment again.
Regarding her now adult children, she added: “They are in disbelief and disgust, learning of my actions.
“They don’t trust me. I am broke and have nothing to pay restitution with.”
Judge Heptonstall asked her: “Where has all this money gone? I cannot see where hundreds of thousands of pounds have gone.”
O’Sullivan replied: “I don’t know. A large part went to pay student housing and rent. I had to start all new again with no belongings, not a stick of furniture.”
Confiscation proceedings will follow and Judge Heptonstall announced: “What you did when you were promoted to the position you accepted relatively quickly was to start directing money.
“It was not easy to see initially, but over a period of seven years and three months there were 170 transactions. That is almost every week.
“You took various amounts in a way that was designed to deceive.
“You say that you were trying to make up for deficiencies in the lives of your children, but they did not ask for it and you knew they had assessments about what they could afford for student loans.
“That does not explain the very great amounts you have taken.
“The effect of what you took was to virtually double your salary, it was 88% more.
“It has taken a toll on the team and with the Charity Commission.
“You recognise that it must be prison today and I have to move up because of the impact on the charity and your similar previous conviction.”
The Judge took into account O’Sullivan’s troubled upbringing and failed marriage, plus the fact she was a single-mum for so many years, adding: “You do now show remorse for what you have done.”
The PRT will also receive £159,000 for their investigation and legal costs from central funds.
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