Gambling addict who stole whopping £1.7million from company where he was a financial controller is locked up for four years
A financial controller who stole £1.7m from his company to fund his gambling addiction and spend on luxury holidays has been jailed for four years.
A court heard Neil Harris, 51, used his position at a high-end recruitment firm to divert company funds into his personal bank account over six years.
The fraud was only exposed when he went on holiday and a junior employee found a £5,544 payment which she couldn't account for, sparking an investigation.
The father-of-one made 123 unauthorised payments as his life 'spiralled out of control' and he attempted to recoup his huge losses from sports betting.
At Harris's sentencing hearing on Friday the defendant's lawyer hit out at gambling sites who made 'easy meat' out of her client.
The bulk of the money, over £1.5m, went on his Betfair account, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.
Harris also became swept up in the 'high end' lifestyle at Caspian One and spent £100,000 of the stolen money on luxury holidays and gifts for his partner.
He also developed a drug addiction and blew some of the cash on that.
As financial controller at the Bournemouth-based company, that turned over £40m a year, Harris was responsible for paying contracts to suppliers.
But prosecutor Matthew Mortimer said that when they expired he carried on making those payments from the company to himself – then gambled the money away.
Mr Mortimer added: 'The defendant was considered a trusted member of staff and described as having a close relationship with the company directors.
'What he did had a serious detrimental financial effect on the company.
'Whilst the fraud was unravelled, the defendant was on holiday.
'Upon his return he was immediately asked to attend an informal investigation meeting where he was asked about two payments made including one for £5,544.
'The defendant admitted to have stolen the money and done so as individuals were threatening his son and it was done to pay them off.'
The court heard Harris was suspended and when he provided his previous 12 months-worth of bank statements the company found he had taken £192,624.
Mr Mortimer continued: 'He said he had the intention of paying the money back but never did so.
'In August 2018 he was dismissed for gross misconduct and Caspian One requested spreadsheets of all payments during his time of employment.
'It showed he had made 123 unauthorised payments between 2012 and 2018 for the total amount of £1,703,465.82p.
'The money obtained during fraudulent activity was gambled away and spent on stocks and shares as he spiralled out of control.'
Harris was dismissed for gross misconduct in August 2018 and was subsequently charged with fraud by abuse of position. He admitted the offence at a previous court hearing.
Rose Burns, defending, said that Harris was of previous good character and was 'devastated' at how he behaved.
She said his gambling addiction overwhelmed him and he became 'easy meat' for betting companies as he 'made whacking great losses'.
The court heard he had also placed a smaller number of bets with Betfred over the period.
Harris, of Poole, Dorset, remains £50,000 in debt and has attended Gamblers Anonymous to tackle his addiction.
Ms Jones said: 'Mr Harris started taking drugs and alcohol when he started working at Caspian One who recruited at a 'high end' level and then became addicted to gambling.
'He has ruined his reputation and lost his good character.'
Jailing a weeping Harris, Recorder Stefan Ramel told him: 'Between February 2012 and March 2018 you stole about £1.7million with these funds paid into your own bank account and the bulk of this money went on gambling, including £1.546m with Betfair.
'You also bought your partner luxury holidays and other spending worth £100,000.
'The impact of your fraud has had a profound effect on your colleagues who felt shocked and betrayed.
'You abused your position of responsibility and it was a sophisticated fraud which required significant planning and carried out over a sustained number of years,
'As it says in the probation report your gambling became addictive and that compelled your behaviour.'
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