Rogue Trader Preyed On Pensioner Duped Into Leaving Him £540K House In Will

A rogue trader, who persuaded a pensioner to pay him £14,000 for non-existent roof repairs then bequeath the property to an accomplice, has been locked-up.

Robert Vincent, 47, of Sandpiper Way, Orpington received five years and three months for the audacious scam.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court.

The 68 year-old victim instructed a solicitor to draw up the new will, leaving the £540,000 house to a man Vincent knew because he could not pay for the overcharged work.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Fraud and Linked Crime Online (Falcon) Unit began an investigation in June, 2017 after a report from Bromley Trading Standards.

Officers visited the victim’s address in Haringey and discovered that, near to Christmas 2016, he had been approached by a man calling himself Terry Griffiths, who had told him his roof needed to be replaced.

A police investigation revealed that Terry Griffiths was in fact Robert Vincent, who told the victim work was needed on the entire roof to fix a leak.

The victim handed over cash and cheques totalling £14,000 to Vincent in a two-month period after Christmas.

In March, he told him that he could not afford to pay for the repairs.

Vincent suggested he could leave his house to him in his will to cover the cost.

The victim reluctantly agreed to do this and visited a solicitor who drafted a new will for him naming Terry Griffiths as the sole receiver.

However, Vincent then asked the victim to change the name to someone who police believe was one of his associates.

On Monday, 5 June, the victim received a phone call from Bromley Trading Standards in relation to another building scam that he had almost been the victim of in June 2016.

Whilst on the phone, he mentioned that he was having building work done and the Trading Standards Officer told him she would send someone round to ensure everything was in order.

When the officer attended the address, he found that no work appeared to have been carried out.

Trading Standards then informed police.

Vincent was arrested on Wednesday, 7 June after he was seen exiting the victim’s property.

In his phone, he had the victim’s telephone number.

The man who had been named on the will was interviewed by police but he denied any knowledge of the fraud and said he did not know Vincent.

Detective Constable Alex Falconer, of the Met’s Falcon unit, said: “This was a deceitful crime in which Vincent tricked an elderly man into changing his will after charging him fourteen thousand pounds for non-existent repairs to his roof.

“A swift police investigation established that Vincent had been using a pseudonym in his dealings with the victim and provided a name of his suspected associate.

“As a result of this conviction the fraudulent will has been destroyed.”

Starbucks Secret Toilet Camera Perv Avoids Prison

Caught On Camera: Dines

A disgraced church-going pervert, caught filming himself installing a secret voice-activated spy camera in a Starbucks toilet, has avoided jail.

Graduate Antony George Dines, 31, of Shortlands Road, Kingston-upon-Thames claims he suffered low self-esteem after splitting with his girlfriend of four years.

The law firm administrator became isolated, watched legal internet pornography and developed a fetish for watching women urinating.

His public arrest after a Scotland Yard appeal shocked the senior pastor of Dines’ Christian church, Peter Woodcock, who along with the defendant’s work colleagues reported him.

Bespectacled Dines, wearing a light grey v-neck pullover and black trousers, had already pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism in that on or before November 22, last year he installed equipment in Starbucks and a second count of voyeurism that he recorded a person doing a private act for sexual gratification.

He is also similarly pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism in relation to the third-floor ladies toilets at Lyons Davidson Solicitors, 87 Burlington Road, Kingston in that he installed equipment and recorded a person doing a private act for sexual gratification on or before the same date.

Dines' Hidden Camera

He received a twelve-month community order, which includes a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and must complete 200 hours community service work.

Dines must also sign the sex offenders register for five years and pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Staff at the law firm recognised Dines from the appeal and called the police, who also found a quantity of small cameras along with 9 pairs of women’s underwear, tape and a small screwdriver in a rucksack hidden under his desk.

Probation Officer Patrick Acres told the court: “Mr. Dines has a close social stable background and is educated to degree level with a 2:1.

“He was very active in the church, also working as a church administrator.”

Dines split with his girlfriend in 2015. “That was his first girlfriend. They mutually split because they did not see where the relationship was going.

“His self-esteem lowered and he began to be more isolated.

“He says he went through a period of four or six months that was fetishistic and developed this interest in watching women urinate.”

The camera filmed from above. “What you could see was the top of the head. The thrill was from a live action shot and knowing what they were doing.

“Mr. Dines is obviously devastated to be in court. He takes full responsibility and expresses remorse and knows how stupid it was.

Nicked At Work: Dines

“He says he was not thinking straight when he did this and it is my assessment he will never come before a court again.

“The ordeal of these court appearances will make sure that never happens again. 

“He has had all sorts of threats on social media and he’s taken down all his social media. He has been reported in the press and there has been a backlash there as well.”

Prosecutor Mr. Claudius Taylor-Sonko said today: “This case relates to Mr. placing recording devices in Starbucks, Vauxhall and also at his old workplace.”

It was on November 22, last year that media manager Ricci Acari, 34, discovered the camera. 

“A customer at Starbucks went to use the disabled toilet used by both males and females. He noticed a light shining from something in the ceiling grate above him.

“On closer inspection he could see a camera. He made his own investigation and ascertained it was a recording device and told staff at Starbucks and the police were informed.

“The device was looked at by experts and the defendant’s identity was obtained. He was seen fixing the device.”

The court heard Dines filmed himself installing the camera and is recorded with a screwdriver is in his hand fiddling about.

Dines was recorded wiping his footprints clean from the toilet seat and police estimate there were 1-24 recordings of toilet users.

“What the recordings showed were males and females using the toilet, mostly females,” explained Mr. Taylor-Sonko. 

“After the identity of the defendant was known the police made a press release and as a result they were able to find out where the defendant worked.”

Dines was arrested on November 24, this year in front of work colleagues, who had tipped-off police.

He was questioned twice and admitted installing the Starbucks camera in February, 2016 having removed it from a female toilet at his workplace, where he had hidden it in a light fitting.

He remained in Starbucks and enjoyed a coffee after installing the camera. “He placed the camera for sexual gratification, he said he had a fetish for watching women urinate.”

The workplace camera was installed for similar thrills. “He said he did this to film women using the toilet for his sexual gratification.

“He placed it in a light fixture after removing a ceiling tile and placed it in the third-floor toilet because there were more women on the third floor.”  

Dines was a Facilities and General Office Assistant, employed by the New Malden firm and was responsible for health and safety compliance and environmental management.

He is a graduate of Kingston University with a degree in Human Resource Management.

He formerly worked at Kingston Business School and at Cornerstone Church, Kingston as an administrator.

He is an active Christian in the south-west London area and continues to be a regular and speaker at Cornerstone Church.

In a letter to the court Pastor Woodcock wrote: “Obviously it was distressing to hear of Antony’s degrading behaviour.

“I immediately called the police to report that I knew him, but he was already in custody.”

The pastor said he knew Dines for a decade and had seen him volunteer as a cleaner and painter and decorator.

“I’ve spoken to him on the phoned sense the shame he feels as well as relief,” concluded the pastor.

Dines has now moved to his parents home in Andover, Hampshire and will have to report himself to local police.

The court also heard that when his home was searched a large quantity of mini-cameras, memory sticks and other media storage devices were seized.

Dines claimed the underwear was his girlfriend’s, but produced no evidence to back this up and police also found two mini-cameras disguised as car keys.

He had bought most of the equipment online at Amazon.

He said he had the rucksack full of cameras with him because he was aware of the press release with his image on it and intended to throw away the items. 

Dines describes himself as “reliable, hard-working and flexible” on his online professional profile.

Actress Accused Of Illegally Sub-Letting Council Flat

An actress accused of illegally sub-letting her north London council house while living in a converted Warwickshire barn has appeared in court.

Sliding Doors star Evelyn Duah, 44, who has also appeared in TV’s Liar; The Bill; Silent Witness; My Family; Doctors; Hustle and Holby City denies the charge.

She appeared at Brent Magistrates Court charged with one count of dishonestly sub-letting her two-bedroom council flat in Link Road, Southgate between August 6, 2013 and April 27, this year.

Barnet Council say she was living at The Granary, Camp Hill Farm, Kites Nest Lane, Beausale while allowing various people, including her brother, to reside at the flat.

They have estimated their cost of placing a family in temporary accommodation for this period at £60,144.

Duah, who gave the Southgate flat as her address in court, gave ‘no comment’ responses when questioned by investigators.

She faces a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment if convicted.

Duah was bailed to appear at Harrow Crown Court on January 2. 

Benefit Cheat Had Saved £153K For Kids' Inheritance

A benefit cheat, who ripped-off taxpayers to fund his children's inheritance with £153,000 he saved up, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Builder Jeffrey Hearn, 55, received £87,000 in Employment and Support allowance and Housing and Council Tax benefit for six years and two months.

He told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court he did not even want a lawyer to defend him because he wants to keep as much of the money he defrauded for himself.

“The money I saved was for my children. I don’t want to pay two thousand pounds to a solicitor,” he said from the dock.

However, the court ordered a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation, which means the children may never see a penny of the money.

Hearn, of Cromwell Place, Station Road, Redhill pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement in a benefits application on June 19, 2009 to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

He also pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement in a housing benefit application to the London Borough of Merton on July 1, 2009.

Hearn also admitted dishonestly making a false statement in an Employment & Support Allowance application to the DWP on August 6. 

All three charges  relate to him lying about the amount of savings he had at the time.

“This was fraudulent from the outset,” said prosecutor Francesca Levett.

Hearn, who claims to have a £300 per week cannabis habit told the court he repaid Merton Council £21,000 and has been making £50 payments to the DWP for 18 months.

“I did not set out on purpose to do this,” he told the court. “I was in a bad place at the time, very depressed.

“I’m doing my best to resolve it by paying back what I can.”

Judge Andrew Campbell sentenced Hearn to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered him to complete a twenty-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

“I will give you full credit for pleading guilty,” he told Hearn. “In the circumstances I’m not going to make an order for unpaid work.”

Afterwards the judge said: “It seems a short sentence for quite a lot of money, but what am I to do?”

Son Sentenced For Fleecing Dad's Money

A son who had Power of Attorney over his late father's finances was sentenced today for helping himself to thousands of pounds from his dad.

Paul Casey, 53, of Becketts Close, Feltham pleaded guilty on his first appearance at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

At an earlier hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, where Casey indicated he would be fighting the charge, the prosecution indicated he may have taken as much as £125,000.

Casey was originally charged with stealing £18,151 from Lawrence Casey between November 4, 2015 and October 26, 2016.

He obtained Power of Attorney on August 21, 2015, but the prosecution say he left his father's care home bill unpaid, which had to be covered by the local council.

When quizzed by police Casey is said to have admitted taking approximately £50,000. 

Today he was sentenced to eighteen months imprsonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 150 hours community service work.

Homophobic Tube Train Assault: Two Suspects Wanted

Suspects Wanted By Police

A teenager travelling to a fancy dress party with friends on London's Underground was put in a headlock and forced to apologise for being gay by two yobs, say police.

The 19 year-old male, who was travelling on the Jubilee Line, was a victim of homophobic abuse say the British Transport Police, who have released an image of the wanted pair.

The teenager was on a westbound Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich on October 21 and along with his friends was already in full costume.

At around 11.10pm the wanted duo boarded the train at West Ham andbegan verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

When challenged, they became more aggressive.

The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat and put him into a headlock, strangling him.

The second offender took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, also making threats to stab him.

They demanded the victim apologise for being gay, which eventually the victim did as he was struggling to breathe.

They then let him go and handed back his phone and a fight ensued between the victim’s friends and the offenders.

One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, was punched and pushed to the ground. She sustained bruising.

The original victim did not sustain any injuries.

At North Greenwich, the victims left the train.

Police are asking for anyone who recognises the wanted males to call the BTP on 0800 40 50 40.

Father & Son Provoked Into Assaulting Man Outside The Family Home

Assault: James & Anthony Witt

A father and son have eventually admitted assaulting a man, who provoked them during ugly scenes outside their south-west London family home.

They had initially pleaded not guilty when they first appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, but admitted their responsibility when they returned for the trial last Friday.

Both Anthony Witt, 55, and James Witt, 26, of Hook Road, Chessington pleaded guilty to assaulting Terry Phillips on August 31.

Magistrate Mr. D Martin told Anthony: “In view of your lack of serious convictions we can deal with this now.

“You have accepted you used excessive force in self-defence.”

He was fined £135, with £135 costs and ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mr. Phillips.

James was fined £370, with £215 costs and also ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mr. Phillips.

The magistrate told him: “We are more concerned about your more significant and recent offending.

“There was clearly some provocation, but you clearly over-reacted by going out of your house.”

Offender Harassed His Probation Officer With Intimate Internet Searches Of Her Life

An offender harassed his probation officer by revealing to her a large amount of personal information he had gathered both on herself and her immediate family with meticulous online searches.

Simon Mott, 53, of Seely Road, Tooting had followed the twitter accounts of the officer's parents; had researched her education; had a photograph of her and a photo of her family's home.

He pleaded guilty to harassing Leanne Packham between May 17 and 22 at the Wimbledon Probation Services's HQ at Martin Harknett House.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard Ms Packham was an acting senior probation officer and had an interview with Mott on May 17.

When she quizzed him about what he was doing to find work jobless Mott snapped: “I'm not willing to tell you anything about that.”

He then brought up her family, adding: “You need to ask your dad about what's appropriate. Your dad tweets daily about Southern Rail.”

The court heard: “He made a comment about her being an 'acting' probation officer and said: “It's been a tough ride for you to get here.”

Mott then produced an A4-sized print-out of her 2011 college and night school courses, plus a legal executive course and a photo of her. “She had no idea where that photo came from,” said the prosecutor.

“She was feeling extremely shocked and distressed about the amount of personal information he had about her.

“He said he was aware she had previously been rejected as a probation officer and was using that fact to intimidate her and undermine her authority.

“She was distressed by how much he knew about her and that he knew she had two sisters, a mother in the alcohol industry that drank gin and lived in Haywards Heath.

“He had accessed all that from the family's various twitter accounts.”

Mott produced more A4 pages, plus a photo of the home Ms Packham had grown up in for twenty years.

“She did not know if the defendant had travelled to the address and he told her the train she catches and the fact she claimed compensation for a delay – a fact she had tweeted in 2015.

Mott, who has previously served a prison sentence and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, only pleaded guilty to the offence on the day of the trial, arguing all the information he obtained was freely available on the internet.

His lawyer told the court: “He feels all the information is in the public domain, but accepts it was wrong to do this at her place of work.”

The District Judge announced: “This was obviously a very unpleasant experience for the victim.”

Mott received 10 weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and was ordered to pay £200 costs, plus a £115 surcharge.

He was also made subject to a restraining order, prohibiting contact with Ms Packham and her family.

Gin Heir Sir Walter Gavin Gilbey Charged With Assaulting His Elderly Mother

The heir to the world-famous Gilbey gin empire has appeared in court accused of assaulting his elderly mother when visiting her countryside home.

Sir Walter Gavin Gilbey, 68, says she fell over when left alone in the room and will return to court to fight the case next year.

He is charged with assaulting Lady Elizabeth Gilbey, 95, at her £950,000 property, Little Paddock, Bury, Pulborough on August 26 when visiting from his home in the Scottish Highlands.

Sir Walter, of Torwood, Stafford Road, Dornoch gave police a prepared statement when quizzed over the allegation and answered all their questions “no comment.”

He says his mother's eyesight is poor and they have had rows over his objections to her continuing to drive.

Prosecutor Miss Melanie Wotton told Crawley Magistrates Court: “She doesn't want any contact with him at all. She said specifically to the officer she is scared of him.”

Sir Walter continues to handle his mother's money and signs cheques on her behalf and his lawyer told the court: “He fears for his mother's finances because he believes his sister is pulling strings behind the scenes.”

The lawyer said his client endures a “very poor relationship” with sister Camilla Elizabeth Frederick, 64, a mother-of-two.

“The sister has contacted the police wishing bail conditions of non-contact,” said Miss Wotton.

District Judge Christopher James imposed conditional bail “to prevent further offences and interference with witnesses” ordering Sir Walter not to visit his mother's home or contact her, except via solicitors.

He is due to stand trial at Horsham Magistrates Court on February 9.

Sir Walter is the 4^th Baronet of The Gilbey Baronetcy and the title's seat is Elsenham Hall, Essex.

The title was created on September 4, 1893 for the wine merchant, stock-breeder, agriculturalist and philanthropist Walter Gilbey.

He was chairman and co-founder of W & A Gilbey, established in 1857 a wine merchants and distillers most famous for London dry gin.

The brand is now owned by industry giants Diageo.

Twice-divorced Sir Walter in known by his middle name Gavin and the Eton-educated businessman was a director of Gilbey's International Inc between 1986 and 1992.

He succeeded as fourth Baronet on October 29, 1991. 

Sir Samuel Brittan's Ex-Assistant Jumps Bail On Theft And Fraud Charges

Sir Samuel

An assistant to veteran business journalist Sir Samuel Brittan, charged with stealing from and defrauding him of thousands of pounds, has had a warrant issued for her arrest.

Michelle Brathwaite, 46, of Whitstable House, Silchester Road, North Kensington, failed to attend City of London Magistrates Court for the second time.

Sir Samuel, 83, is the elder brother of the late Sir Leon Brittan, who died in January, 2015 aged seventy-five and was the former Home Secretary to Margaret Thatcher.

He was the first economics correspondent for the Financial Times, where he still writes a column and was the economics editor at The Observer.

Cambridge graduate Sir Samuel is also a member of the Academic Advisory Council of the Global Warming Policy Foundation. 

Brathwaite was summonsed on a charge of fraud by abuse of position between August 1, 2016 and April 30, in that as a trusted friend and helper withdrew and transferred sums of money from Sir Samuel’s Coutts & Co. bank account to make a gain, namely £93,500.

She also faces two counts of fraud by false representation on dates between August 1, 2016 and April 7, firstly that she submitted a document that she had third party payment authorisation to Sir Samuel’s American Express bank account with intent to make a gain, namely £96,000.

Secondly that she had permission to use Sir Samuel’s American Express card to pay for goods and services to make a gain, namely £96,000.

Brathwaite is also charged with stealing £91,000 from Sir Samuel between April 1 and 30, this year.

The case had been adjourned after Brathwaite claimed she was too ill to attend having suffered a stroke earlier this month.

Starbucks Toilet Perv Pictured On His Own Hidden Camera

Caught On Camera: Dines

A disgraced church-going pervert, caught filming himself installing a secret spy camera in a Starbucks toilet, was arrested in front of law firm colleagues with a bag full of ladies underwear.

Antony George Dines, 31, of Shortlands Road, Kingston-upon-Thames knew he had been identified in a Scotland Yard appeal after accidentally recording himself installing the ceiling device.

Staff at solicitors Lyons Davidson recognised him and called the police, who also found a quantity of small cameras along with the underwear in a rucksack hidden under his desk.

He appeared in custody at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism.

He was bailed for sentencing on December 6.

Bespectacled Dines, wearing a dark pullover and jeans, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and nationality and enter his pleas.

He pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism in that on or before November 22, last year he installed equipment in Starbucks and a second count of voyeurism that he recorded a person doing a private act for sexual gratification.

Dines' Secret Camera

He is also similarly pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism in relation to the third-floor ladies toilets at 87 Burlington Road, Kingston in that he installed equipment and recorded a person doing a private act for sexual gratification on or before the same date.

He told police he installed the Starbucks camera in February, last year and spied on the toilet users as he sat inside, posing as a customer, having already used it at his workplace.

Dines was a Facilities and General Office Assistant, employed by the New Malden firm and was responsible for health and safety compliance and environmental management.

He is a graduate of Kingston University with a degree in Human Resource Management.

Dines, whose parents were in court to support him, formerly worked at Kingston Business School and at Cornerstone Church, Kingston as an administrator.

He is an active Christian in the south-west London area and continues to be a regular and speaker at Cornerstone Church.

Prosecutor Mr. George Crivelli told the court: “The venue for these offences was Starbucks in Vauxhall in a one-customer toilet that is also a disabled toilet.”

It was on November 22, last year that media manager Ricci Acari, 34, discovered the camera. 

“A customer noticed a light shining from something above the ceiling grate. Upon closer investigation this customer could see a camera and stood on the toilet and touched the device and reported it to Starbucks staff, who called the police.”

Police were unable to identify any DNA traces on the camera, but fortunately Dines had filmed himself.

“On one piece of film footage a gentleman is seen installing the camera in the toilet and his screwdriver is in his hand and he is fiddling about.

Dines Was Arrested At Work

“He has filmed himself and there is a good likeness from the camera.”

Dines is recorded wiping his footprints clean from the toilet seat and police estimate there were 1-24 recordings of toilet users.

“The image of the gentleman was circulated and police were contacted by members of staff at the firm where the defendant works.

“When police attended New Malden Business Centre on November twenty-four a rucksack was found under the defendant’s desk.

“He tried to distance himself from the bag and said it was not his and inside were cameras, electrical tape, a small screwdriver and nine pairs of women’s underwear in a blue plastic bag.”

Dines’ home was also searched and a large quantity of mini-cameras, memory sticks and other media storage devices were seized.

Mr. Crivelli said Dines was questioned twice at Brixton Police Station. “He fully admitted placing the camera in February 2016. placing it there and remaining in Starbucks watching people using the toilet.

“He said he had a fetish for watching women urinate. He said he placed the camera in his own workplace before taking it to Starbucks to record women.

“He had placed it on the third floor at work because there were more women up there and it was voice-activated.”

Dines claimed the underwear was his girlfriend’s, but produced no evidence to back this up and police also found two mini-cameras disguised as car keys.

He had bought most of the equipment online at Amazon.

“He said he had the rucksack full of cameras with him because he was aware of the press release with his image on it and intended to throw away those items.”  

Dines describes himself as “reliable, hard-working and flexible” on his online professional profile.

His lawyer Mr. Graeme Rothwell told the court: “Through an abundance of shame and embarrassment he has forwarded these pleas today.”

District Judge Karen Hammond bailed the first-time offender on condition he does not possess a recording device or enter premises where there are public toilets.

“I’m going to need a report. The starting point for sentencing is a high-level community order.”

Shop Assistant Admits Money Laundering

Inner London Crown Court 

A young Croydon shop assistant had admitted allowing over £80,000 in criminal cash to be laundered through her bank account.

Marta Kotowska, 26, of Lower Addiscombe Road appeared at Inner London Crown Court, where she will return for sentencing on December 22.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of acquiring criminal property on dates between October 30 and December 12, 2014, namely £67,432.58p and £19,200.

The first-time offender described her own behaviour as “very foolish and opportunistic”.

Kotowska claims she received a very small financial reward for laundering the loot.

She was bailed for a probation report and was told by the 
judge: “Clearly the offence does cross the custody threshold. The defendant should be under no illusions and there are no promises.”

Accountant's £10K Rolex Ruse Against Hollywood Producers

An accountant with a Camden-based movie production company, involved in a string of Hollywood hits, used their money to order a £10,000 Rolex during a bitter bonus dispute.

Nicola Hodson, 42, was even offered £20,000 the day before by The Fyzz Facility, but still proceeded to order the watch using the company’s credit card.

The company also has a Los Angeles office and has invested over £200m in more than 200 feature films over the last seven years.

These include Wind River, starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen; Martin Scorsese’s Silence, starring Liam Neeson; Shock and Awe directed by Rob Reiner and starring Woody Harrelson and The foreigner, starring Pierce Brosnan and Jackie Chan.

Hodson, of Victoria Barracks, Sheet Street, Windsor pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by dishonest abuse of position on January 29, last year, namely attempted to gain the £10,714.90 Rolex. 

Blackfriars Crown Court heard she cancelled the transaction and never received the watch, but was dismissed when the company discovered the fraud.

Hodson was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to complete 40 hours community service and pay £500 costs.

“It beggars belief that you were so stupid to use their card to buy a ten thousand pound Rolex watch the day after they offered you a twenty thousand pound severance,”  Recorder Dafydd Enoch QC told her.

Hodson had always fought the case and eventually admitted her responsibility on the day of her trial.

“At the eleventh hour you pleaded guilty to the charge of fraud. There was obviously history to it that maybe made you think you were entitled to a certain amount of money from the company.

“What you did do was cross the line from honest negotiation to dishonest appropriation and you have admitted fraud on this company.

“Normally when someone steals from the company they work for that person goes to prison, but this was a misguided attempt to sort out negotiations not going your way.

“You cancelled the transaction as soon as you set it up. You realised soon after that you did wrong.

“You knew full well that you were acting dishonestly.”