Toxteth woman jailed for fraud against her employer

Our Economic Crime Team is welcoming the sentencing of a Toxteth woman to three years and four months in jail for fraud against her employer.

47-year-old Stephanie Long of Issac Street was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday 17 November.

Between 2016 and 2020, Long took more than £200,000 from the accounts of her employer, B&M Waste Services in Bromborough, Wirral. 

Long left the company in February 2020 and subsequent enquiries revealed that she had been making fraudulent payments to a bank account, through her role as Purchase Ledgers Manager.

In addition to the sentencing, Long will now been subject of further financial investigations. 

Police Staff Investigator Ben Carpenter, who led the investigation alongside D/C Martin Watson, said: “This was a significant, devious and protracted crime which placed the business under significant financial pressure, causing distress and worry for everyone employed, and of course for their loved ones. 

“Her attempts to abuse her responsible position have been thwarted by this complex investigation, which is a pleasing result to see for all of us.
 
“That such an impact would be caused to the business was clearly lost on Long, and she will now be left to consider the full consequences behind bars.

“Fraud can and does devastate individuals and businesses, and thankfully Long has now been prevented from causing any more harm, and will hopefully have learnt a tough lesson about how seriously police and the courts take such matters.

“Some of the work we do can take months of painstaking investigation but it is important that people see that we won’t allow criminals to benefit from their illegal activity and work will continue to ensure that any ill-gotten cash will be taken from them and where possible redistributed to our local communities for everyone’s benefit.”
 
For more information about fraud and fraud prevention:  
 
Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud you can contact them on 0300 123 2040 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk
 
Advice and information about fraud is also available via https://www.merseyside.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/