Family Worker Cheats Charity Out of £90K in Voucher Scam
Gemma King, 39, exploited her role as a Family Support Worker at Derbyshire County Council to claim £90,000 worth of vouchers from Family Fund Business Services over just nine months. The fraud ran from November 2018 to August 2019, with King using fake funding requests to swindle the social enterprise.
Scam Continues While Off Sick
Even while off on long-term sick leave, King kept submitting voucher claims. She used both work and personal emails to send and receive the vouchers. The charity funding these vouchers came from the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme, intended to help vulnerable children in crisis.
Instead of aiding families, King used the vouchers to buy white goods and various items. She then sold these goods or the vouchers themselves on social media, often below face value, pocketing the profits.
Police Smash Massive Fraud Operation
Suspicious activity caught the eye of Family Fund after King flooded them with unusually high number of applications. This triggered a police investigation. A raid on her home in Stonebroom, Alfreton, uncovered dozens of untouched, brand-new items bought with the fraudulently gained vouchers.
Bank account checks revealed that large sums of cash were being moved into a second account belonging to her then husband, Jamie King. He denied involvement, but further investigations showed he helped hide the stolen money.
Justice Served: Suspended Sentences and Community Work
Gemma King was charged with fraud by abuse of position and money laundering. derby/" title="Derby" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Derby Crown Court sentenced her to two years in prison, suspended for two years, plus 150 hours of unpaid work and a six-month curfew.
Jamie King, 39, from Acton, London, was convicted of concealing criminal property. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service.
Detective Constable Calla Millwaters said: “Gemma King abused her powers, effectively stealing from the very children and families she was meant to support. Her persistent fraudulent claims, even while off sick, led to her downfall. Thanks to the teamwork of all involved, new safeguards are now in place to stop this happening again.”
