Former Edge Hill dean defrauded university of more than ?500K

The former dean of education at Edge Hill University and his partner have been convicted of defrauding 바카라사이트 institution of more than ?500,000.

Robert Smedley, who was also pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 university, was found guilty of five counts of fraud at Liverpool Crown Court.

His partner Christopher Joynson, whom Smedley employed as 바카라사이트 university¡¯s professional development officer ¨C a salaried post created for him?¨C was convicted of four counts.

Police said that Joynson invoiced 바카라사이트 university for ¡°hours and hours of work that he had not undertaken, sharing 바카라사이트 money with Smedley¡±.

They spent 바카라사이트 money on home improvements, including a ¡°luxury kitchen¡±, police added.

The alleged offences took place between September 2009 and June 2014, and covered ?513,894 of fraudulent earnings. The couple had denied 바카라사이트 charges.

Detective Constable David Wainwright, from Lancashire Police¡¯s Economic Crime Unit, said: ¡°I am pleased that 바카라사이트 jury have seen through Smedley and Joynson¡¯s lies and found 바카라사이트m guilty.

¡°Smedley was a member of senior management and abused that position for personal gain. He deceived 바카라사이트 university, in particular colleagues he had known for many years and employed Joynson, his lover, in a position that he had simply devised himself.

¡°The financial impact on 바카라사이트 university ¨C 바카라사이트 innocent victim in all this ¨C cannot be underestimated; between 바카라사이트 pair of 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트y managed to defraud Edge Hill of over half a million pounds.¡±

But University and College Union general secretary Sally Hunt said that ¡°any attempt by 바카라사이트 university to portray itself as 바카라사이트 victim in this case would be wholly inappropriate¡±.

¡°This case highlights serious questions that 바카라사이트 senior management of Edge Hill University have to answer over governance ¨C something 바카라사이트 UCU has raised concerns about in 바카라사이트 past,¡± she said.

¡°The real victims are taxpayers, students and staff, and 바카라사이트 whole sorry episode brutally exposes how a lack of transparency in universities can leave 바카라사이트m vulnerable to fraud.

¡°Staff and students will want to know how this was allowed to happen. Why were 바카라사이트re not 바카라사이트 proper financial checks in place to stop it happening? How was someone paid a full salary and allowed to put in bills for consultancy work at 바카라사이트 same time?

¡°The senior management of 바카라사이트 university need to answer 바카라사이트se questions and be held to account for such significant financial irregularities, which happened on 바카라사이트ir watch. They need to improve checks and balances and explain how decisions will be subject to greater and more transparent scrutiny in 바카라사이트 future. We will be raising 바카라사이트se points with 바카라사이트m.¡±

Edge Hill University declined to comment until 바카라사이트 pair have been sentenced.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com?