Fraud Duo Swindle Employer Out of Nearly £290,000 in Five Years
Two women have been slammed with prison sentences after racking up more than £289,000 in fraudulent orders on their employer’s accounts over five years.
Leia Jones, 37, from Swanscombe, and Kayleigh Stonestreet, 36, of Chatham, abused their work positions at a Rochester-based firm to splash cash on luxury goods and clear personal debts.
More Than 1,100 Fraudulent Orders Placed
Between 2013 and 2017, they placed over 1,100 dodgy orders via more than 600 online retailers. Their haul included everything from cleaning products and camping gear to mobile phones, home décor, and designer clothes.
The scam was uncovered on 7 December 2017 when a mobile phone provider flagged suspicious activity on the company’s account. Stonestreet had ordered 92 phones worth £41,000, which she then sold to an online recycling firm for just over half their value.
Police Crack Down After Internal Probe
Following this discovery, internal checks exposed further financial irregularities. Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit swooped on 21 May 2018, arresting both women.
Stonestreet faced two counts of fraud by abuse of position, while Jones was charged with one count. Both were also hit with two more counts each for spending over £100,000 on online purchases. They admitted all charges.
Heavy Jail Terms for ‘Betrayal of Trust’
Sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 3 April, Stonestreet received three years and 10 months behind bars. Jones was jailed for two years and seven months.
Detective Sergeant Adam Stallard of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said:
“Fraud is not a victimless crime. These women were trusted in their roles, and they purposely deceived their employer over a number of years for financial and material gain.
I am certain if their offending had not come to light, they would have continued to defraud the company. Their sentences are justified and I hope they serve as a reminder to others who may be thinking of committing similar crimes.”
