Good timing for an update on this thread, it was in the UK newspapers yesterday that Yasmin Disney has been jailed for 22 months for swindling 100,000 in expenses during her time as an MoD PA.
Here is the story.
A MINISTRY of Defence secretary who swindled £100,000 in expenses to live like a princess has been jailed for 22 months.
Yasmin Disney, 25, splashed out on luxury holidays, jewellery, a sports car, gadgets, handbags and gifts for her boyfriend.
She admitted making a string of bogus claims during her two-year employment as PA to an Army Major, and faking emails authorising payment.
Disney, of Hookwood, Surrey, pocketed £100,276 and more than £85,500 of that was stolen in her last four days in the job.
Guildford Crown Court heard she splashed out on an Audi TT sports car as well as a car for her boyfriend, luxury holidays, designer handbags, jewellery and gadgets.
David Forsyth, defending, told the court: “She is embarrassed at her naivety, that she thought she could get away with her spree of dishonesty.”
Disney sobbed in the dock as judge Neil Stewart said the “sheer scale of offending was too great” to avoid a prison sentence.
When she was arrested on November 5, less than a fortnight after leaving her role at the Army’s headquarters in Andover, Hants, for a new job less than half the cash was still in her bank account.
Lee Harris, prosecuting, said her crimes came to light after accountants noticed an “unusual spike” in expense claims.
In her administrative role, Disney was only entitled to claim travel and food expenses.
Mr Harris said: “Following her arrest, police searched her home where they found copies of an email chain between her and her line manager, Major Luke Cox.
“That e-mail purported to be from Major Cox and was amended to authorise the claims.”
Disney, who in 2010 for becoming the first woman in the UK to undergo non-surgical breast reduction surgery, admitted a charge of fraud by false representation.
About £41,000 was in her bank account when she was arrested. Her partner gave back the £22,500 given to him as a gift for a car, and proceeds from the sale of Disney’s Audi have gone back to the MoD.
Disney also forfeited a number of items to be sold at auction, but did not agree to giving back a GHD hairdryer, a mobile phone and an iPad mini.
Judge Stewart said: “You used money to buy things for yourself. You said it was a relief to be caught. In a sense, perhaps, but you didn’t volunteer to confess.”