Victim of dating fraudster is jailed over theft

A WOMAN who was targeted by an online dating fraudster has herself been jailed after the police inquiry into his crimes revealed that she had stolen more than £600,000 from her employer.

Tahmoor Khan, of Bude Road, West Bowling, Bradford, was jailed for eight and a half years in October 2016 after he conned victims by posing as a businessman despite running up thousands of pounds in gambling debts.

Bradford Crown Court heard how 42-year-old Ilyiea Ali, of Botteville Road, Birmingham, fell victim to Khan and because of her own financial position was tempted to steal from International Security Forum Limited, where she worked as a £68,000-ayear head of finance.

The court heard that Ali stole just over £610,000 between March 2015 and April 2016.

Prosecutor Tom Storey said Ali had continued to steal even after the police contacted her about payments made to Khan.

WhatsApp messages between them referred to “marriage” and included demands from Khan for money. Just under £320,000 was transferred to Khan and his associates, but Mr Storey said the total figure was likely to have been higher. A further £191,000 was paid by Ali to family members she owed money to, the court heard.

Ali had spent some of the money on a holiday to Dubai but there was no evidence of her living a lavish lifestyle. Mr Storey said ISF Ltd was unaware of Ali’s offending because she was supposed to bring anomalies to her employer’s attention.

Ali pleaded guilty to the theft charge and the Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC jailed her for 30 months.

The judge said Ali’s own unhappy history made her “ripe for fraud”, but she preyed on her company by using her skills to obtain amounts of cash that most people could only dream of.