Dogs home boss and ex face jail for £900k theft
THE former chief executive of Birmingham Dogs Home and his wife plundered almost £900,000 from the charity, spending £75,000 on their luxury wedding.
Simon and Alayna Price carried out the huge fraud over four years and even stole the proceeds of the sale of a £400,000 bungalow, which had been bequeathed to the dogs home.
Trustees are believed to have confronted Simon Price last September about the missing cash, much of it left by dog lovers in their wills.
Suspicions were raised after Mr Price spent “at least £75,000” on his wedding to co-worker Alayna Warner, the charity’s commercial manager and head of fundraising.
The couple are said to have honeymooned in Spain, but mingham Crown Court heard have now split up.
Chief executive Price, 53, of Somerton Drive, Marston Green, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of fraud, amounting to £640,000.
His former wife, 39, of the same address, had admitted five fraud charges, amounting to £250,000.
The offences were carried out over a period of more than four years and also involved receiving £399,350 from the sale of the home.
The biggest legacy payment plun- later Birthey dered was £60,000. This week couple were told by Judge Avik Mukherjee: “You have both pleaded guilty to very serious offences.
“For my part I can not see no alternative end to this case other than significant custodial sentences for both of you.
“That much seems to have been accepted by Simon Price.
“However, you are both character.
“I am prepared to allow both of you to speak to the probation service of good to explain how you got involved in this serious trust.
“You must both come to court on December 22 expecting imprisonment and the court expects you to have made appropriate arrangements for that type of sentence.”
Harpreet Sandhu, for Alayna Price, said “The offences came to light not as a result of an investigation that had already begun, but as a result of admissions made directly to a Trustee at the Dogs Home. yourselves breach of
“It was as a result of admissions made by her that the police became involved.”
He said she had already paid back £130,000, and that she was of previous good character and was currently pregnant.
Mr Sandhu also she had the sole care of a daughter who had just turned three and was partially sighted.
Patrick Maggs, for Simon Price, said there were matters he needed to put in order before being sentenced.