Rolls Royce manager jailed for £200,000 fraud
A SENIOR Rolls Royce manager has been jailed after defrauding the Sutton Coldfield sports club where he was treasurer.
Jeffrey Hampson admitted fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for two years and eight months at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday. He faces a proceeds of crime hearing in October to assess how much money he must repay.
Hampson, who earned £50,000 a year working for a Rolls Royce subsidiary, was in charge of the finances at Boldmere Sports and Social Club for 20 months before police were called in last December.
The investigation showed Hampson had transferred £217,000 from the club’s bank into his online trading account, where he suffered significant losses.
Investigating officer PC Alan Reeves said: “He was the only person with full access to the club’s bank account using online login details – and he abused that trust and power by simply transferring large sums into his current account and into his shares trading account.
“He had some success and repaid around £95,000 into the club’s account in dribs and drabs. But he lost £122,000 in total before being caught by suspicious committee members.”
The club operated more than 30 football teams alongside bowls, netball and tennis sections and it generated an annual turnover of more than £300,000.
Hampson’s deception was uncovered when some suppliers, including a major brewery, weren’t paid and final demands were received from firms that Hampson’s doctored statements suggested had already been paid.
Brian Bryant, chairman of Boldmere Sports & Social Club, said it had been “a very stressful period with the whole future of the club in doubt”.
He added: “As a club we can now start the process of recovering financially and investing our resources into supporting activities for all our members.”
