Financial Investigation Events Log
Case Number: POLTD/0708/0249
Investigator- Adrian Morris/John
Longman
Date Events
Initials
15/01/08 I Received details of investigation at West Byfleet Post Office,
regarding a shortage of £77,643, following an audit undertaken at the
office on 14/01/08.
Received suspect offender report form (No. 1 in document file) from
investigator, which indicated that Sub-Postmistress admitted to false
accounting, but denied theft. She stated that £89,000 had been stolen
in 2006 by previous employees, the majority of this alleged theft was
not reported to Police.
PS
13/02/08
Spoke to A Morris. He is currently preparing reports and
completion of financial investigation forms.
PS
22/02/08
Received FES form (No.2 in document file) from Investigator,
which details property owned in Finsbury Park, N4.
PS
14/03/08
Received offender report (No. 3 in document file) and tape
summary (No. 4 in document file) from investigator.
PS
08/04/08
Received details of charges raised by CLT. 1 charge of theft and
4 charges of False Accounting.
PS
11/04/08
Informed by Contract Manager that suspect has resigned from her
position as Sub-Postmaster.
PS
11/04/08
Requested any further information available to the investigator.
PS
20/10/08
Investigator has now gone long term sick. To be decided where
this case is going.
PS
10/01/09
Case now being dealt with by John Longman. Will liaise with him
for current situation. Informed that prosecution is being preceded
with. Received copy of summons from investigator. (No. 5 in
document file) I charge of theft and 4 charges of false accounting.
Theft of £74,609.84.
PS
23/02/09
Land-reaiste.checks.mace..which.shaw.the suspect holds a lease
on! GRO _jand also the post office
pret , West Byfleet. (No.6 in
document file).
PS
23/02/09
Results of PNC check and Equifax check received (No. 7 and 8 in
document file). No result on the vehicle check made. Limited
information available on the Equifax check. Consider further
enquiries. Speak to line manager for advice.
PS
11/03/09
7 charges against the suspect raised by CLT, I theft and 6 false
accounting.
PS
02/06/09
T/C from investigator to say trial may be commencing today.
Need to action a section 18 statement.
PS
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02/06/09 T/C to investigator p.m. Case adjourned until 14° July for a PS
mention hearing. Possible trial in new year. Further enquiries to
be conducted regarding the bank accounts of the suspect.
24/07/09 Trial date set for 30/11/09 at Guildford Crown Court. PS
26/11/09 New trial date set for 15/03/10 at Guildford Crown Court. PS
11/03/10 Trial date has been cancelled. Await new date. PS
12/04/10 Trial now set for 21/06/10. PS
21/10/10 Trial took place last week and concluded today with the defendant PS
being found guilty. Section 18 forwarded to CLT. Sentence
hearing set for 11/11/10. (No. 9 in document file)
16/11/10 Sentence hearing took place at Guildford Crown Court on PS
11/11/10 at which the defendant was sentenced to 15 months in
prison with concurrent sentences of 6 months on 6 other charges.
Section 18 served and confiscation timetable set. (No. 10 in
document file)
Defence to respond to section 18 by 23 December 2010
Section 16 by 25 January 2011
Defence response by 24" February 2011
By 10" March defence and prosecution to confirm that
Parties are ready and estimate length of hearing.
11/01/11 Section 17 response received. (No. 11 in document file) To PS
prepare a section 16 statement and forward to CLT by 24%
January.
20/01/11 Section 16 statement prepared with associated documents (No PS
12 in document file)
21/01/11 Section 16 statement forwarded to Jarnail Singh at CLT by PS
Special Delivery.
09/03/11 Confiscation hearing set for 24/03/11 at Guildford Crown Court. PS
To prepare forms 5050's.
21/03/11 Form 5050's prepared. PS
23/03/11 Confiscation hearing cancelled due to defendant being sick. New PS
date expected in July.
06/04/11 New confiscation hearing set for 8 July 2011. PS
08/07/11 Confiscation hearing at Guildford Crown Court. An order was PS
made for £40,000 to be paid as compensation to Post Office Ltd.
The defendant was given 6 months to pay with a default sentence
of 15 months. Potential for a higher available amount if the value
of the property is higher than suggested at court.
28/07/11 Details of the confiscation order put onto JARD, case number PS
058703, order number 122873. Alison Osbourne at Surrey
confiscation unit informed of the update.
31/01/12 T/C to South East confiscation uniti__..GRO____.). Stated that the PS
defendant's solicitor has informed them that the property has been
repossessed and is currently being sold. Call back at the end of
February for an update. (Alison Osbourne no longer works for the
unit)
09/02/12
Correspondence received from the defendant via the Crown
Court, which details that the property has been re-possessed and
the balance remaining after the mortgage has been paid_ off. will
be approx. 21k. She also states that she qwes}
and we would then be left with a balance of:
I have written to Phil Taylor advising that in my opinion POL
should receive all of the available balance, as the property formed
part of the confiscation order and was listed on the 5050A. May
result in a further court hearing to resolve the situation.
PS
10/02/12
Advised by Phil Taylor that he has written to the court requesting
a further hearing to resolve the matter regarding the balance left
to Post Office Ltd. Await confirmation of any hearing date.
PS
27/02/12
New hearing date set for 26" March at Guildford Crown Court
PS
27/03/12
Documents handed over by the defendant at the hearing show
that the equity in the property has gone, after the property was re-
possessed by the Woolwich bank. There now appears to be no
assets available and no reason to continue with the court hearing
‘on the 23 April.
PS
13/04/12
Discussions with Jarnail Singh who agreed that no reason to
continue with this matter. We will meet next week to resolve the
necessary paperwork for the defendant and the court. I will also
need to update the confiscation unit.
PS
13/04/12
T/C to the defendant re the court hearing next week. She is
seeking clarification on the payment made to Hackney Homes of
£14,418.00 and will call me when the details are known.
PS
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17/04/12
Meeting with Jarnail Singh, it would now seem evident that the
property asset has been diminished through re-possession. Value
sold did not cover all of the costs and mortgage. Hearing on
Monday 23 April to reflect change in circumstances and request
to be made for nominal order.
PS
10/05/12
At further hearing, the defendant was able to prove that the
property was sold and the amount did not cover the full cost of the
mortgage. As a result a nominal order for £1.00 was made and
the case is now closed. No other assets available.
PS