April Piercy
A GP surgery manager who stole almost £54,000 to fund her online bingo habit has been jailed, reports the East Anglian Times.
April Piercy, 45, stole the funds from the GP surgery that she managed.
She had worked at the Great Clacton Medical Partnership since 2001.
However, since 2011, she created false invoices for locum doctors in order to feed her gambling addiction, and stole a total of £53,850.
Ms Piercy earned an annual salary of £66,000.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard earlier this week how Ms Piercy spent around £140 every day playing online bingo, as well as live bingo.
The court was told by the prosecution of the impact her actions have had on the GP practice which had already been in financial difficulties.
Sacha Bailey, prosecuting, read a personal impact statement from Dr Ildiko Spelt, a partner at the surgery. The statement stressed how she was still struggling to deal with the fallout of the situation. The doctor had written, “I relied 100% on April to run the practice so I could focus on my patients.”
Evelyn Hicks, who was defending Piercy in court, said that her client had suffered depression after the death of her parents in the early 2000s. She also said the Ms Piercy was also often burdened by the troubles of colleagues who would confide their problems with her.
She said Ms Piercy owed a lot of money, including mortgage arrears – thus meaning her house was about to be repossessed.
In total, it is believed her debt is double the amount that she is estimated to have actually stolen from her employers.
Mrs Hicks said: “She played bingo five times per week and that became her lifestyle.
“The practice was in dire financial difficulties. She has added to it, she has not caused it.”
She added that Ms Piercy is now living on benefits.
Judge David Turner QC gave Piercy 14 months in prison for fraud by abuse of a position of trust.
He said: “This is a tragic day for you. The fact is you have derailed your life, and the sad reality is you have made extremely bad choices for an intelligent person.
“You were someone who was completely trusted, looked at as having commitment and energy, and were paid a decent salary.
“You were not as perhaps well supported personally, and you sought solace in what became an addiction to gambling.
“It rather took over your life and you wasted much of the monies which you were stealing.
“By raising the bogus invoices you covered your tracks conciously and deliberately and knowing with every one you sent out you were doing something wrong.
“Your conduct was protracted but out of character. I don’t doubt it has left you stressed, depressed and ashamed, and added to the difficulties you have with isolation.
“I hope you manage to survive this sentence and put this tragic and shameful incident behind you, and with the help of your friends pick up your life.”
No order has yet been made for compensation as a separate Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is scheduled for next month.
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