Net 1on1’s former book-keeper has been jailed for 12 months after defrauding the company of almost £100,000. The 38-year-old woman, who filtered the stolen funds through her own companies and used part of it to buy a house, was sentenced in October at St Albans Crown Court. She had worked for Net 1on1 on a self employed basis for over six years.
The embezzlement came to light in July 2007 when officers from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs visited the company with regard to unpaid taxes. The resulting internal investigation revealed that the woman had been forging the signature of Net 1on1’s MD on cheques and paying money due to the Revenue into her own accounts.
The woman pleaded guilty to the theft of £98,603 and also admitted two counts of transferring criminal property – one for £5,000 and one for £2,500. A confiscation hearing is expected to take place next year.
Net 1on1 MD Dean Farebrother commented: “I get no satisfaction from seeing someone who was once a friend go to prison, but what she did was a terrible breach of trust. Thank God our company is in a strong position and we were able to sustain such a loss with no great consequences.”
