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WITNESS STATEMENT
IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR A RESTRAINT ORDER
(SECTION 41 PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002)
This statement (consisting of 4 pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief
and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have willfully
stated anything, which I know to be false, or do not believe to be true.
Dated: September 2008
Signature:
IN THE CROWN COURT AT CROYDON September
2008
Susan Jane RUDKIN
WITNESS STATEMENT
1. I am Gerald Harbinson an Accredited Financial Investigator currently employed by Post Office
Ltd, Royal Mail Group PLC, at PO BOX 1, Croydon, CR9 1WN.
2. The Director of the National Policing Improvement Agency accredits me with the Powers under
Part 2 and Part 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. I can say as follows:
3. I am duly authorised to make this witness statement on behalf of the solicitor to Royal Mail
Group PLC who will prosecute in this case and I make this witness statement in support of an
application for a restraint order pursuant to section 41 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
4. I am also authorised by Dave Pardoe, senior authorizing officer, Royal Mail Group PLC under
section 68 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to make this application.
wn
I have the conduct of a financial investigation into the financial affairs of Susan Jane RUDKIN,
hereinafter called the defendant.
SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION
Signed..
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6. On Wednesday the 20" August 2008, a criminal investigation was started in England and Wales
into offences of theft and false accounting. In connection with the investigation, I have been
informed by Mike Wilcox, the officer in charge of the criminal investigation, and believe that: -
a) The defendant was an assistant working at Ibstock Sub Post Office
he incumbent Subpostmaster was the defendant's Husband, Ernest
Michael Rudkin who had been in post since the 26" October 2000.
b) An audit of the office accounts on the 20" August 2008 revealed a shortage in the office
accounts of £43,856.89. As a result of the audit shortage, Mr Rudkin was precautionary
suspended from his position as Subpostmaster.
c) On the 20" August 2008, Post Office Investigators interviewed the defendant under
caution.
d) During that interview the defendant stated that the office had been experiencing losses in
the Post Office accounts from approximately January 2006 and that she had been
inflating the cash on hand figure in the accounts to cover the shortages.
€) She further stated during interview that she had taken cash from the Post Office to cover
payment of general bills, which had been paid it into a joint bank account held with her
husband. The defendant stated that she alone was responsible and that no one else had
any knowledge of the theft.
f) Mike Wilcox is still carrying out further investigations.
7. I believe that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has benefited from her
particular criminal conduct to at least £43,856.89.
REALISABLE PROPERTY
a) The defendant is a 53 year-old female residing at :
b) The registered title number of the
8. I have made preliminary enquires into the financial affairs of the defendant and it is to my
knowledge that:-
GRO } She
lives there with her husband Ernest Michael Rudkin and two sons. The Post Office is attached to
the private residence.
names of the defendant and her husband. The property was purchased for £150,000.00 in
January 2001. The value of the property is now believed to be in the region of £490,000.00 with
an outstanding mortgage in the region of £250,000.00.
c)
qd)
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Enquiries have revealed that the defendant has access to the following bank account:
4 sort code} GRO
which showed a negative balance of £252.08 as of the 1** August 2008.
I. Lloyds TSB joint account with her husband, account number 'Z
Intelligence shows that the defendant has credit card debts and a personal loan, which currently
total just over £27,000.00.
EXTENT OF BENEFIT
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
I believe that the defendant has a criminal lifestyle through having committed a criminal lifestyle
offence. This is because:
I believe that the defendant has committed an offence(s) over a period of at least six months and
has benefited from this offence in total of not less than £5,000.
The enquiry is at an early stage and the extent of benefit is not yet known.
It is, therefore, my opinion that this is a case in which the court may apply the assumptions under
section 10 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 when assessing the extent of the benefit from
criminal conduct.
In so far as I am aware, no civil proceedings have been commenced on behalf of any person that
might be said to have sustained loss arising out of the commission of the alleged offence(s).
I believe that if a restraint order is not made there is a real risk that these assets will be
dissipated. This is because of the serious nature of the alleged offences and the amount of public
money involved. It has been established that the defendant has credit card debts and a personal
loan which total over £27,000.00 so I cannot be assured that any equity in the property will be
held to service any future confiscation order.
ORDERS SOUGHT
Restraint Order
4
4. I therefore seek a Restraint Order against Susan Jane RUDKIN in respect of the following
properties which, to the best of my ability, I am able to particularise as follows: -
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Name of Witness — Ged Harbinson
Date: September 2008
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