Architects’ accountant stole £650,000 to fund daughter’s education
Fraudster even upped pension payments and paid for holidays
AN accountant at a Birmingham architect’s firm plundered £650,000 from the business to spend on a luxury holiday and to fund her daughter’s private education.
Lisa Dugdale would use the company’s credit on a daily basis to make “extravagant” purchases.
Dugdale, 49, of Somerset Road, Erdington, who had previously admitted fraud by abuse of position, was jailed for four years.
She began work as a practice secretary and financial accountant in 2008 with Associated Architects, based in Birmingham’s Mailbox, and in that position was expected to manage the financial interests of the company.
However, between 2011 and 2019, she she made “substantial” financial gain for herself by using the company’s credit card which was only supposed to be used for business spending.
“There were everyday items such as food and petrol but also more extravagant spending including a luxury holiday, renovation to her home and to fund her daughter’s tuition at a private school,” said Queenie Djan, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court.
She made regular cash withdrawals and also increased the limit of spending on the card without authority.
In addition, from February 2017, Dugdale began to increase her employer’s contribution to her pension, again without, authority initially up to 15% and eventually by February 2019 to 27.5%, causing a loss to the company of around £17,000.
Matters came to light when in July 2019 the firm changed to a new accounts review company which requested statements for expenditure to be signed off and led to the defendant resigning from her position.
The managing director of Associated Architects said Dugdale’s actions had resulted in leaving the company “rudderless” and there had been issues over paying staff.
Mahan Manu, defending, said the crime started when Dugdale found herself short of money in a supermarket and decided to use the company’s card.
“It became too easy to use and things escalated.”
He said Dugdale had a number of health difficulties, including diabetes, and had also become heavily dependant on alcohol.
She had shown regret and remorse and had hoped to pay some of the money back by selling her property.
“She is fully aware she will never be employed in a similar position or at all.”