Trio jailed for college swindle

TRUSTED WORKERS STOLE CASH

Court Reporter A COLLEGE was duped out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, a training charity was forced to close and jobs were lost as a result of a sophisticated fraud by three trusted workers.

Executive managers Joanne Mounter and Paula Bolan, helped by training assessor Kym Norman, created fictitious clients at Team Wearside so they could con cash out of their subcontractors for costs.

As a result of the scam, Sunderland College was duped out of more than £300,000 and training firm Springboard was fleeced of around £100,000.

A court heard that after the dishonesty was exposed, the two well-established and respected city businesses ceased trading with Team Wearside, a non-profit organisation which closed for good last month.

Mounter, 46, of Minster Court, Willington, County Durham, admitted three fraud charges and pocketed a total of £186,306 in the scam.

Bolan, 45, of Lonsdale, Birtley, Gateshead, admitted two charges in relation to the £177,662 she obtained.

At Newcastle Crown Court both of the women, who conducted the con for more than two years, were jailed for four years and four months each.

Norman, 53, of Stratford Avenue, Grangetown, Sunderland, admitted one charge in relation to £40,426 he made in his involvement, which lasted about 12 months. He was jailed for two years and two months.

Recorder Andrew Haslam told the trio: “My judgement is your fraudulent activity played a significant role, or was a significant contributory factor to the failure of Team Wearside.

“A number of those employed at Team lost their jobs and it has ceased trading.

“That, in my judgement, constitutes a serious detrimental effect on the victims of the frauds.”

The judge said he accepted the three were all now remorseful for what they did but told them: “Each of you, in my judgement, held a position of trust or responsibility within the organisation.

“It was a significant and sophisticated fraud, orchestrated by Joanne Mounter and Paula Bolan and into which you were recruited, Kym Norman.”

Prosecutor Rupert Doswell told the court a “whistleblower” had reported financial regularities at Team Wearside, which was funded by a Governmentbacked agency, was established more than 25 years ago and helped unemployed people train for work, which resulted in an investigation.

He said: “A number of persons were initially suspected of being involved in the fraudulent activity and were all suspended on November 29 2016.

“This included those that worked alongside the proposed defendants in their team.

“It was then believed that they must have had some knowledge of the fraudulent activity because of their position.

“This view has not endured. It is an aggravating feature that as a result of the necessary investigation into this fraud, there was a suspension of some other workers and the distress that must have been caused to them and their families.”

Mr Doswell told the court prosecutors have launched a separate investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act in an attempt to get some of the stolen money back.

But he added: “A significant proportion of the fraudulently obtained money has been spent.

“The final position of what may be recovered is not yet known.”

Defence barristers said all three were formerly respected workers who are now deeply sorry for their involvement.

Peter Schofield, for Mounter, said she has been a hard-working, single mum since the sudden death of her husband when she was pregnant with her youngest child.

Mr Schofield said Mounter, who turned to gambling, feels “deep shame” for her behaviour and wished to apologise for it.

Tony Davis, for Bolan, said the former respected worker had a “monumental addiction to gambling” and is “at a loss” to explain how she allowed herself to get so out of control.

Mr Davis added: “Her whole life is utterly destroyed as a result of her involvement in this.”

John Caudle, for Norman, said the assessor’s involvement was on a much smaller scale and he has put away cash to pay back what he took.

Mr Caudle said Norman has health problems and was known as a “vulnerable individual” when working at Team Wearside.