Latest news with #MeganReynolds
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Fraudster mum, 28, who faked pregnancy and stole £100,000 from her employers and boyfriend walks free from court
A mother-of-two who faked having cancer, being pregnant and stole nearly £100,000 from her employers has avoided jail. 'Selfish' Megan Reynolds, 28, racked up thousands on lavish gifts - including hotel stays, a five course dinner and clubbing in Amsterdam - using company cards before attempting to conceal them through fake invoices. She defrauded electrical machinery firm CSL Power Systems out of £78,000, who described her as a 'compulsive liar', between 2019 and 2021 before she was caught and dismissed by bosses, Maidstone Crown Court heard. But, just a month later she joined another firm, ATL Retail Limited, where she continued her behaviour - again fraudulently spending £18,500 of the company's cash on her own amenities. Her dishonest habits didn't stop there however, as the court also heard that Reynolds took out a finance agreement for over £1,000 using her boyfriend Callum Bishop's name and details without his consent. She also lied to Mr Bishop by telling him she was pregnant with a fake scan and faked having cancer to a family member to get time off work. Reynolds had initially denied the offences and a trial date was set for February this year but then, less than two weeks before she was due to take the stand, she changed her pleas to guilty. But she avoided prison after a judge decided that given her role as a mother to two small children and having not committed any further offences since being charged, it would be too harsh to put her behind bars. At her sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, July 4, the court heard how Reynolds, of Fruit Fields Drive in Rainham, had pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and a further three counts were ordered to lie on file. During her role at CSL Power Systems in Farningham, near Dartford, between November 6, 2019 and March 26, 2021, Reynolds undertook the book keeping and had access to the company credit cards and would assist colleges by making online purchases on their behalf. But instead, the court heard she was using the 11 company cards to make fraudulent transactions, and tried to conceal them using fake invoices. When an employee noticed a purchase did not have a matching receipt, she tasked Reynolds with reporting it to Barclaycard Bank - an action she did not take, instead providing 'fictional' updates to the company. But by February, 2021, when an employee found a bank statement for an EasyJet flight in her name, the police were called and discovered no fraud had been reported to the bank. That evening, while employees investigated, they found emails were being remotely deleted by Reynolds and she was told to stop. The prosecutor, Nick Sanders, explained how fraudulent payments included car insurance for her vehicle, bookings on and a five-course dinner, along with spending at a nightclub in Amsterdam. To cover her tracks, the court heard how an invoice for a spill kit, valued at £75.96 was used to cover-up a purchase of dog chews Reynolds had made. Meanwhile, an invoice for black frames actually matched the purchase of a 5-piece set of Tefal pans. The total amount of fraud at the company was £78,000, the court heard. But after being dismissed, within a month she was working at another firm in Sevenoaks, ATL Retail Limited, from April 26, 2021 until January 17, 2022. It was only through a chance meeting with someone from CSL that Reynolds' fraudulent past became knowledge to her new employer. ATL Retail Limited made Reynolds redundant and discovered a number of fraudulent transactions, totalling £18,500. But as well as deceiving the two businesses, the court heard how Reynolds had also been deceiving her former partner Callum Bishop from February 2019 until they split in October 2021. The night before he left he found a letter for a financial agreement from Creation Finance in his name for over £1,000 that he had never taken on. He rang the company and found out Reynolds' mobile number was linked to the loan. The prosecutor said: 'She abused her position of trust and was sophisticated in nature'. But Judge Julian Smith said: 'I do not think it is particularly sophisticated, more wounding and hurtful but not particularly sophisticated.' The court heard how the now 28-year-old, had been charged with six fraud offences, including two counts of fraud by abuse of position and four counts of fraud by false representation in 2023. Only three fraud offences, regarding CSL Power Systems, ATL Retail, and Callum Bishop were pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service and the other three charges were ordered to lie on file. The judge added: 'She had quite the network of dishonesty set up. £78,000 is a lot of money and certainly a lot of money whether it's personal or business. 'It's a very substantial impact and it is exploitative. She saw an opportunity and went after it again and again and again.' He said Reynolds was 'dishonest' and 'deceitful' and sought to enrich herself personally at others expense. 'She was given a fresh start and then did it again - straight away,' the judge added. Her defence solicitor, Lucy Kennedy, explained how the victim impact statements had caused Reynolds 'considerable distress' and that her actions were driven out of 'greed' and she is 'mortified'. Relaying Reynolds statements, the defence solicitor said: 'None of it was worth it. That is not me anymore. 'I am devastated that I have hurt them in such a way that they can't trust others in the way they used to and I am devastated that I have caused so much trauma to them.' The court heard Reynolds was 'petrified' to face her victims in the court room and has acknowledged she could be sent to prison, so had packed a small suitcase which she brought into the courtroom. The court heard how the 28-year-old now has a four-and-a-half month old baby who was born prematurely and is immunosuppressed while also being lactose-intolerant. And while the court heard that both baby's fathers are present in their children's lives, the judge considered the fact Reynolds was the 'principle' caregiver and was still breastfeeding her baby. Meanwhile, Ms Kennedy explained Reynolds' son, aged two, had undergone eye surgery for a squint and is due to have another surgery. While explaining that Reynolds' offence was a 'modern day fingers in the till' she then urged for a suspended sentence, keeping in mind her son, two, and her daughter, four-and-a-half months - adding 'that is not her anymore'. 'Keep the three of them together,' Reynolds solicitor said. In response, the prosecutor explained how Reynolds had often told lies in the past, such as pretending to a family member she had cancer to get time off work, telling Mr Bishop she was pregnant by providing a fake scan, and lying about her dog having cancer. While he said he did not doubt that Reynolds had children, the prosecutor referenced her perpetual lies to urge the judge to question information given by the mother-of-two. In his remarks, the judge said the three offences were examples of 'persistent dishonesty'. He said: 'Having faced the victims now, reflect on what it was about you to put your selfish wishes, superficial desires above everybody else. 'You were a fraudster. You were thieving,' he added. The judge handed the 28-year-old a suspended sentence of 24 months in prison for the first count, 15 months in prison for count two, and six months in prison for count three, all suspended for two years and to be served concurrently. She was given 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours unpaid work. Judge Julian Smith added: 'You are being given a chance today because of your two children. If you breach this order what you are telling the court is that you do not care.' A further hearing is set to organise a timetable of repayment for the money stolen. 'I do not expect to see you again. If I do, I am giving you a warning, do not let your children down,' the judge said. Following the conclusion of Friday's hearing her former employer CSL Power Systems recorded their disappointment at what they believe to be an unduly lenient sentence. 'As a company and on a personal level we are thoroughly disappointed with the sentencing ruling by the judge and feel it has sent out the wrong message in today's society,' a spokesperson for CSL Power Systems. 'Essentially you can steal 100K from honest businesses and walk away without ever seeing the inside of a cell as long as you have a well-timed pregnancy!' The company explained how the length of time between her crimes and sentencing has meant the victims had to wait four years for her to be brought to justice, while Reynolds had carried on with her life, in their view, 'without a care in the world'. The company claim Reynolds has never shown any remorse, or apologised for her actions. They described her as a 'compulsive liar', adding: 'We let Miss Reynolds into our lives, and after COVID she worked from offices in our home and we thought she was also a friend.'
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why the Word ‘Like' Drives People Bananas
LIKE: A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word, by Megan C. Reynolds The word 'like' is addictive, even for those who relish the possibilities of language. 'Why do I insist on filling my speech with a word that means nothing when there are hundreds of others at my disposal?' asks the culture writer and Dwell magazine editor Megan C. Reynolds early in her new book. Some may dismiss the titular 'Like' as the domain of brainless Valley Girls, or as merely an annoying verbal tic. But Reynolds argues that the word is not merely misunderstood, it's underestimated: In her view, it is a linguistic Swiss Army knife. (Reynolds concentrates primarily on American English, but states that it is, in fact, used the same way in many English-speaking countries.) 'Like' can, of course, still be employed as a preposition to suggest approximation or as a verb to indicate positive feeling; it can work as a filler, replacing 'uh' or 'um'; it can replace 'said' in storytelling; it can even, at times, function as an emphatic remark in itself. This is all a big deal for Reynolds, who by her own account likes to talk. She writes that using 'like' makes someone seem more fun and approachable and even endearing in conversation. She loves that a word's slang usage has changed the English language. 'The way we tell stories now is fundamentally different because we make space for feeling as well as fact,' she writes. A few pages later, she adds that 'we're entering a pact with our conversational partner. Both parties know that the story that's about to unfold is just that — a small work of autofiction, imbued mostly with facts or, more specifically, the facts that truly matter.' The book is a mounted defense of the honor of a word that, she says, everyone uses — which is doubtless true. But when Reynolds writes that 'seemingly no word in the English language has come under as much fire,' it's less convincing. 'Like' is framed as a rebuttal to complaints about the use of the word — but just who is this enemy constantly bashing its usage? Grammarians who live to nitpick? Someone from 1982? Barring a few discrete examples — a 2016 essay on for instance — the 'naysayers,' 'prescriptivists' and 'general sticks in the mud' are not clearly established. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Dublin Live
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Dublin Live
Smartphone bans have little to no impact on student well-being, study reveals
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Smartphone bans have little or no impact on education, online bullying and wellbeing among students, according to a new study by Dublin City University. Last week, new national guidance was issued to schools on restricting mobile phone use. Primary schools now require a policy to ban the use of and access to mobile phones during the school day, while secondary schools require a policy to restrict mobile phone use during the school day. Some €9million in funding has been allocated for schools to look at a range of storage solutions, including lockable boxes, cubby holes for drop-off and collection at the school office. It followed opposition criticism of a plan to fund 'phone pouches' across secondary schools. A €9million scheme to provide the pouches to second-level schools, announced in last October's budget, sparked controversy at the time, and it was labelled 'wasteful' . The Government then U-turned, telling schools last week they can apply for up to €25 per student to purchase secure storage solutions for mobile phones, such as pouches or lock boxes. However, doubts have been cast over the policy's effectiveness. Researchers from DCU's Anti-Bullying Centre found that the stricter the phone ban, the more students look for ways to subvert it. A new report has looked at existing international research as well as a new Irish study on the experiences of students. In the DCU report, researchers examined existing international research on smartphone bans and related research on smartphones and their use among children and adolescents. It found that international research is 'clearly mixed and somewhat conflicting', with most studies showing that smartphone ban policies can have 'little or no impact on education and wellbeing among students' in different countries. The study found no current research can be said to definitively demonstrate that smartphone bans completely protect children and adolescents from online bullying or harmful content. The Anti-Bullying Centre is also recommending that online safety and digital citizenship education should be a compulsory topic in schools. Researchers also conducted focus groups in six schools in the east. Students reported that they were not taught enough in school about online safety and digital citizenship, leading them instead to rely on their peers for guidance and skills. Some pupils also reported that teachers cause distractions to the learning environment with their phone use. Others were concerned that smartphone bans may inhibit students from learning resilience and skills for life beyond school. And the report found that students' voices have not been included in decision-making on smartphone restrictions in schools. Lead author of the report, Dr Megan Reynolds, said: 'Our research shows that we need to listen to students on issues that directly impact them and ensure that they are included in the decision-making process regarding policies on smartphone bans and related issues. 'My hope is that this research will allow adolescents to finally have their voices heard and it will provide an opportunity for more nuanced conversations on smartphones.' The director of DCU's Anti-Bullying Centre and Unesco chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, Prof James O'Higgins Norman, added: 'Students have also indicated that there are more pressing issues for students than smartphones in schools that they believe require action, including vaping.' But while a ban for secondary students remains under scrutiny, there is growing support for a veto on phones for younger students. Several primary schools located in Co Louth have asked parents not to give their children a phone for use in school, or at home, until they finish sixth class. And almost 90% of parents who responded to a survey circulated by the schools last year have agreed and signed this voluntary charter. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
Smartphone bans have little to no impact on education or bullying, study finds
Smartphone bans have little or no impact on education, online bullying and wellbeing among students, according to a study by Dublin City University (DCU). Last week, new national guidance was issued to schools on restricting mobile phone use. Primary schools now require a policy to ban the use of and access to mobile phones during the school day, while secondary schools require a policy to restrict mobile phone use during the school day. €9 million in funding has been allocated for schools to look at a range of storage storage solutions including lockable boxes, cubby holes or drop-off and collection at the school office. It followed opposition criticism of a plan to fund "phone pouches" across secondary schools. Researchers from DCU's Anti-Bullying Centre found that the stricter the phone ban, the more students look for ways to subvert it. A report published on Wednesday looked at existing international research as well as a new Irish study on the experiences of students. In the DCU report, researchers examined existing international research on smartphone bans and related research on smartphones among children and adolescents. It finds that that international research is "clearly mixed and somewhat conflicting", with most studies showing that smartphone ban policies can have "little or no impact on education and wellbeing among students" in different countries. The study finds that no current research can be said to definitively demonstrate that smartphone bans completely protect children and adolescents from online bullying or harmful content. The Anti-Bullying Centre is also recommending that online safety and digital citizenship education should be a compulsory topic in schools. Researchers also conducted focus groups in six schools in the east of the country. Students reported that they were not taught enough in school about online safety and digital citizenship, leading them instead to rely on their peers for guidance and skills. Some pupils also reported that teachers cause distractions to the learning environment with their phone use. Others were concerned that smartphone bans may inhibit students from learning resilience and skills for life beyond school. The report also found that students' voices have not been included in decision-making on smartphone restrictions within schools. Lead author of the report, Dr Megan Reynolds, said: "Our research shows that we need to listen to students on issues that directly impact them and ensure that they are included in the decision-making process regarding policies on smartphone bans and related issues. "My hope is that this research will allow adolescents to finally have their voices heard and it will provide an opportunity for more nuanced conversations on smartphones." Director of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and Unesco chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, Professor James O'Higgins Norman, added: "Students have also indicated that there are more pressing issues for students than smartphones in schools that they believe require action, including vaping."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Breuer Building Gets Landmark Status—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week
Can the "abundance movement" solve America's transportation issues? Plus, Spain cracks down on Airbnb listings, the best furniture and decor from New York design week, and more. A burgeoning cadre of thinkers is promoting the idea of abundance to solve America's biggest issues, including health care, energy, and housing: supply, they say, is the panacea. But in terms of transportation, are more cars really an answer? (Bloomberg) The Breuer Building in New York, once home to the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, has been granted landmark status. But that designation only applies to certain parts of the modernist address, and doesn't include its galleries. Here's what the building's new owner, Sotheby's auction house, says it plans to do. (The New York Times) For New York design week, Dwell's senior home guides editor Megan Reynolds popped by the Javits Center to scour its emerging designer showcase. From a spiky jewelry "box" to a loofahlike metal sconce, here's what she uncovered at North America's largest furniture fair. (Dwell) Bad actors in Brooklyn have been bilking homeowners out of deeds through various schemes, and Black and brown residents are particularly at risk. Now, the borough's councilmembers have announced a plan to combat these white-collar criminals and dox them in the process. (Hell Gate) As Spain faces a lack of housing, critics of Airbnb say the short-term rental platform is to blame, with mass demonstrations being held across the country. In response, the government has ordered Airbnb to remove 66,000 listings—but it won't happen overnight. (The New York Times) Top image courtesy
