Woman who defrauded employer out of £370,000 walks free due to pregnancy

A woman in Newcastle who defrauded her company out of £370,000 has been spared jail time because she is pregnant.

Danielle Longstaffe, 32, who worked for Kaefer Ltd for nine years as a transport administrator, stole the money in several installments.

The 32-year-old said she took the enormous sums as she was being chased by loan sharks, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The soon-to-be mum transferred money from her employer’s account into her own, as well as those of family and friends. In total, £218,000 of unauthorised banking transactions were recorded.

She also racked up another £141,000 after she hired vehicles using the company’s supplier. In total, 33 vehicles went missing.

On a company credit card, Longstaffe also had a charge of £10,000 on an unauthorised charge.

Her employers caught onto the fraudulent activity after a boss noticed that between £80,000 and £90,000 had gone missing from April to May 2022.

Her actions impacted 300 of her colleagues, the judge said.

MORE LIKE THIS:

• Fraudster jailed for £160,000 in insurance scams with even his own family exploited
• Fraudster who posed as charity worker to scam two vulnerable men out of £18,000 is jailed
• Benefits fraudster caught after taking employer to tribunal – but failed to declare his TWO jobs

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between September 1, 2021 and May 13, 2022.

Longstagge, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with a mental health treatment requirement.

Recorder Harry Vann told her: “It’s clear from banking records and what you said interview you took advantage of your position in a company where you had worked for nine years and decided, suddenly, after a period of successful employment, to start stealing enormous sums, they were enormous sums every single month.”

The judge said that in the interest of Longstaffe’s unborn child, a suspended sentence would be given to ensure she did not give birth in prison.

He said: “I have to take into account the impact on any pregnant woman. I have to have regard to the interests of the unborn child you carry.

“Ordinarily speaking I would say such a crime demanded immediate custody. However the welfare of your unborn child takes precedence and must.”

Clare Anderson, defending, said: “She acknowledges this is serious criminal offending and that she’s at serious risk of an immediate custodial sentence.

“This started because of difficulties she got herself into because of loan sharks. She was a well-respected employee at that company for nine years. Unfortunately, she found an easy way to access cash.”