LONDON(BN24) — A 63-year-old former NHS employee has avoided prison after stealing £80,000 from the health service and sending it to a man in Nigeria she claimed was her online boyfriend.
According to the Telegraph, the theft occurred between June 2021 and January 2023, when the woman, identified as Blair, withdrew the funds from the NHS trust’s accounts. Prosecutors said she sent the money to Michael Okafor, a man in Nigeria with whom she had developed an online relationship. Blair told the court she felt pressured to send the money and described herself as “helpless.”
At Reading Crown Court, Judge Lynn Tayton KC sentenced Blair to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after she admitted to fraud by abuse of position.
“The funds were intended for public services, and your theft caused distress among colleagues,” Tayton said. “Incidents like this undermine confidence in the council’s systems, and the consequences will be felt for a long time.”
Blair initially told probation officers she had “no idea” why she took the money but later said she believed she was in a relationship with Okafor, who demanded the funds. The judge found the dishonesty was sustained and not solely explained by pressure or mental health issues.
The court heard Blair suffers from depression, is unemployed, and currently receives universal credit. Tayton suspended the sentence due to Blair’s lack of previous convictions and positive character references.
Under the order, Blair must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and six months of mental health treatment.
“You are fortunate,” Tayton warned. “Be very clear — if you come back before this court, you will go to prison.”
