Don faked digs in £223,000 lottery scam
A CAMBRIDGE don made up archaeological projects in an attempt to steal more than £220,000 of lottery grants.
David Barrowclough doctored paperwork and invoices to claim £223,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for historical excavations.
Barrowclough, 48, of Ely, a governing body fellow in the department of archaeology of Wolfson College, was caught only because a letter for him was delivered to the wrong address.
He had made his first application for a grant in 2005 and received regular funds from 2006 until 2013, using false references to support his projects to obtain more money.
The don spent it on mortgage payments, Premium Bonds and a new Alfa Romeo MiTo hatchback.
Barrowclough was jailed at Huntingdon Law Courts, Cambs for six years after being convicted of fraud and deception.
Luke Blackburn, prosecuting, said: “What the defendant did was an abuse of his position. He was in a position of trust and responsibility.
“We suggest this was a sophisticated offence for which there was significant planning.”
The court heard how Barrowclough had been struck off as a solicitor in November 1997 when he was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting 12 counts of theft.
The college did not become aware of his convictions because he applied using a CV and attached letter rather than completing a standard application form which includes a section on criminal history.
Barrowclough won his position after completing an undergraduate degree and PhD at the college, later becoming a junior research fellow and tutor.
Mr Blackburn added: “He simply did not discuss the fact that he was struck off as a solicitor. It is very unlikely he would have got any of these positions had they known.”
Judge Peter Murphy said Barrowclough was caught after a letter intended for him was incorrectly delivered.
He added: “I have to say that those verdicts are more than justified in light of the evidence I have heard.
“This was as the Crown have said a sophisticated and sustained case of fraud on a number of occasions.”