Locksmith’s con cost NHS £600,000

THE chief locksmith at a London hospital trust defrauded it out of nearly £600,000 by hiring his own supply firm and charging a 1,200 per cent mark-up on goods, a court heard.

Andrew Taylor, who worked for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, was found guilty of fraud by abuse of position at Inner London Crown Court and jailed for six years.

The court was told that Taylor, 55, of East Dulwich, south east London, had been responsible for obtaining best value quotes for supplies, but purchased them from his own company.

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) said he did not declare a conflict of interest and charged “extortionate” mark-up prices of up to 1,200 per cent, defrauding the trust out of £598,524.

Between 2007 and 2013, a company called Surety Security supplied Guy’s and St Thomas’ with locksmith materials. Investigators found that apart from two very low value jobs, it had no customers other than the trust. Taylor owned and controlled the company.

When the deception was discovered he resigned before disciplinary procedures were completed.

It is the first conviction by the NHSCFA since it was founded in 2017.

“Andrew Taylor exploited his position ... to satisfy his own greed and personal lifestyle,” said Sue Frith, the interim chief executive of the NHSCFA. “The sentence ... should act as a clear deterrent to anyone else who thinks that NHS funds are there for their own gain, instead of being there to meet the healthcare needs of everyone.”