Campaign aimed at cutting retail abuse
also in relationships with two men.
None of his lovers were aware he was seeing other people.
Day told the woman he needed £360 to “pay for bailiffs in Manchester” and said he was going to soup kitchens as he had no money.
That very day, he spent nearly £90 at a restaurant.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say Day promoted himself as a “financial turnaround consultant and accountant”, advising companies on their businesses.
He worked under 20 company names – including Entrusted Group Ltd, based at the Ancoats premises in Jersey Street – GMP added.
The force’s Specialist Fraud Investigation Team became aware of concerns about Day when reports were passed to the Economic Crime Unit between August 2011 and September 2014.
Several companies reported that money was disappearing under Day’s management, detectives say.
These included firms such as Asia House Management Company Ltd, which is a residential management company established for a swish apartment block on Princess Street in Manchester city centre, Entrusted Health Ltd, Shaping Health International Ltd and Avida Care Limited, which provides home visits to vulnerable adults.
While in a position of trust with these companies, Day would take control of their bank accounts and large sums of money would go missing.
Police say it was actually being paid into Day’s own company accounts, instead of suppliers. He would then use false narratives to explain how they got there, including using fake financial accounts to provide to directors at annual general meetings.
While being investigated by GMP, officers learned the NHS Counter Fraud Authority had established Day had become a financial director for numerous NHS trusts at the same time – and had failed to disclose it to his employers.
This included Merseyside Commissioning Support Unit and South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG, both of which were paying him a full-time salary.
The NHS CFA worked with GMP and the Crown Prosecution Service to secure a full range of charges.
At Leeds Crown Court, Day, 53, of Lincoln Court, Chapelford, Warrington – formerly of Quiech Mill, Blairgowrie, and Aberford, Leeds – was jailed for 11 years and five months having pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud; and three counts of theft. Day was also banned from being a company director for nine years. Prosecutor Craig Hassall QC told the court: “In providing his particular brand of ‘assistance’ to businesses, the defendant would often take up a position on the board of the company.
“He would then suggest the company could make financial savings by outsourcing payroll and financial management operations to his service company.
“Once appointed to provide those support services, the defendant would set about systematically removing funds from the victim company, often using false narratives on bank transfers to make it look as though payments were being made to legitimate creditors, in particular HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
“Once those mislabelled transfers funds were made into the accounts of one of the many companies that he controlled he would often then transfer the funds again, paying for various properties that he acquired during the period of the offending, furnishing those properties, foreign travel and paying for the care of his elderly mother.”
Richard Rippin, head of operations of the NHSCFA, said: “Stephen Day carried out a calculated fraud against the NHS. Any money lost to fraud effects the amount of resources the NHS has available for front line care.
“The money stolen by Day would have been enough to fund the annual salaries of three nurses. We are pleased that through joint working with Greater Manchester Police we were able to show the court the full extent of his offending.
“The NHSCFA believe that multiagency working such as this is the best way to stamp out fraud against the public sector. If you suspect NHS fraud, please report it to us either through our online reporting form or by calling our fraud and corruption reporting line.”
THE UK’S biggest retailers, the Home Office and independent charity Crimestoppers have launched a new and timely campaign urging the public to Shopkind after the reopening of more shops across the country.
Abuse and violence towards shopworkers is a bigger problem than many people might think, with at least 400 shopworkers abused every day.
The Shopkind campaign urges the public to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role in supporting people during these difficult times, and emphasises that we should all treat workers and also other customers with respect, kindness and gratitude.
The campaign is backed by the Home Office and supported by major high street retailers as well as the nation’s independent shopkeepers, and the shopworkers Union Usdaw.
The Association of Convenience Stores’ 2021 Crime Report, shows that over the past year there have been over 1.2 million incidents of verbal abuse, and around 40,000 incidents of violence against people working in stores.
The defendant would set about systematically removing funds from the victim company.
Proecutor Craig Hassall QC