Latest news with #NeilHarris
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gambling addict who stole £1.7m blew money on luxury holidays and drugs
A gambling addict who stole £1.7 million from his company spent the money on luxury holidays, drugs and gifts for his partner. Neil Harris, of Poole, Dorset, used his position at a high-end recruitment firm to divert company funds into his personal bank account over six years. He made 123 unauthorised payments as his life 'spiralled out of control', attempting to recoup his huge losses from betting on sports. Harris also became swept up in the 'high-end' lifestyle as a financial controller at Caspian One, where he was responsible for paying contracts to suppliers. However, when the contracts expired he carried on making those payments from the company to himself and gambled the money away on his Betfair account. Funding an addiction He spent £100,000 of the money he stole from the Bournemouth-based company on luxury holidays and gifts for his partner. He also developed an addiction to drugs, and blew some of the cash on sustaining his habit. His theft was eventually uncovered by a junior employee who was in charge of the accounts while he was on holiday. She noticed a payment for £5,544 that she could not account for and delved further to discover the fraud perpetrated by Harris. When he was confronted about it upon his return to work, he admitted to stealing money from the company but falsely claimed it was to pay off someone who was threatening his son. But after providing his bank statements over the previous 12 months it was found that he had stolen £192,000 over that period and he was dismissed for gross misconduct in August 2018. The investigation was subsequently expanded to cover his entire length of employment from 2012 to 2018 and the final figure stolen was £1,703,465. The court heard that Harris was not interviewed by police about the matter until November 2024. He was subsequently charged with fraud by abuse of position and admitted the offence at Poole magistrates' court in March. The case was then committed to Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing because of its seriousness. 'Shocked and betrayed' The court heard that Harris, who is of previous good character, remains £50,000 in debt and has attended Gamblers Anonymous to tackle his addiction. Recorder Stefan Ramel sentenced Harris to four years' imprisonment. The judge said: '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.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
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.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cambridge sign Lincoln defender Bradshaw
Cambridge United have signed Lincoln City defender Zak Bradshaw on a two-year contract. Bradshaw was still under contract to the Imps despite not having played for them, but the clubs have agreed on a free transfer deal. Advertisement The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Tranmere Rovers, making 27 League Two appearances for the club, 11 of them starts. "I am ready to knuckle down and kick-start my career properly. I have had a lot of loans and racked up a lot of games, so now I want to be able to call a place home," Bradshaw said. Cambridge will start the new season with a home game against Cheltenham Town on 2 August. They have now made five summer signings since being relegated from League One. Boss Neil Harris said of Bradshaw: "He is a young player with a lot of potential, but already has experience of playing football in League Two. Advertisement "He adds real competition for places across the defensive unit and we look forward to working with Zak to enable him to grow into a player that has a long-term future at the club."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cambridge sign Lincoln defender Bradshaw
Cambridge United have signed Lincoln City defender Zak Bradshaw on a two-year was still under contract to the Imps despite not having played for them, but the clubs have agreed on a free transfer 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Tranmere Rovers, making 27 League Two appearances for the club, 11 of them starts."I am ready to knuckle down and kick-start my career properly. I have had a lot of loans and racked up a lot of games, so now I want to be able to call a place home," Bradshaw said., externalCambridge will start the new season with a home game against Cheltenham Town on 2 have now made five summer signings since being relegated from League Neil Harris said of Bradshaw: "He is a young player with a lot of potential, but already has experience of playing football in League Two."He adds real competition for places across the defensive unit and we look forward to working with Zak to enable him to grow into a player that has a long-term future at the club."
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cambridge sign Purrington after Exeter release
Cambridge United have signed defender Ben Purrington on a one-year deal after he was released by Exeter City at the end of the 29-year-old made 30 appearances for the Grecians in his 16 months at St James who started his career with Plymouth Argyle before going on to sign for Rotherham United and Charlton Athletic, moved back to English football with Exeter after a spell in the Scottish Premiership with Ross County."He has been a standout performer at left-back in recent seasons in League One and the Scottish Premier League, and we think he will bring great defensive balance, a real desire to win and promotion-winning experience to our squad," Cambridge boss Neil Harris told the club website., external
