Supervisor who defrauded company out of £8k avoids jail

Sam Lane (31) worked as a supervisor in Ivor Searle’s sales office in Soham and was predominantly in charge of invoicing customers.

On three occasions between February 27, 2018 and January 16 last year Lane provided customers with his personal bank details, pretending they were his employer’s.

He was caught out when suspicions were raised by a customer and, following an internal investigation, he was suspended.

In total, Lane defrauded his employer out of £8,584.40.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Monday Lane, of White Hart Lane, Soham, was handed eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, having pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at a previous hearing.

He was also ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work and will return to court for hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

PC Tim Anderson said: “Lane abused his position and the trust of his employer to line his own pockets.

“Fraud can have a serious impact on businesses and we will continue to do all we can to put perpetrators before the courts.”