Ex-National Trust Worker Jailed for £1 Million Fraud
Roger Bryant, 73, a former National Trust surveyor from Barnstaple, Devon, has been locked up for six and a half years after ripping off the charity for over £1 million. He wasn’t alone — his two sons, James and Scott Bryant, also faced court for cash laundering.
Fake Invoices and Family Money Laundering
Bristol Crown Court heard how Roger approved 148 bogus invoices for work that never happened. The money funnelled straight into companies owned by his sons, James, 49, and Scott, 38. Astonishingly, one of James’s companies was the National Trust’s largest local supplier — despite nobody in charge knowing it existed.
Fraud Exposed After Internal Audit
The scam was uncovered during a routine procurement review in 2013. Investigators realised no actual work was done. Roger even tried to pervert justice by coaching witnesses to lie and hiding Trust documents on a farm. He also submitted invoices for repairs on his own home, pretending it was National Trust business.
Sentences and Reactions
- Roger Bryant: 6½ years in prison
- James Bryant: 4 years in prison
- Scott Bryant: 18-month suspended sentence + 170 hours unpaid work
“Roger Bryant betrayed the public’s trust and targeted a charity meant to protect our heritage,” said Crown Prosecution Service’s Sian Mitchell. “Despite his attempts to mislead, we proved his guilt and will pursue confiscation to recover stolen funds.”
Detective Inspector Adam Bond from Devon and Cornwall Police called the case complex but praised the tough sentences. “This fraud strikes at the heart of a respected charity charged with preserving the nation’s treasures.”
The authorities are now working to seize any remaining assets linked to the scam.
