A mum who stole a quarter of a million pounds from her employers and splurged it on lavish holidays, jewellery and designer clothes has been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds of her ill-gotten gains.
Angela Boote was a long-term employee at insurance brokers Griffiths and Armour, but used her role managing the company’s banking functions to pocket cash for herself. The 53-year-old sent numerous payments intended for clients to personal accounts, including those of one of her daughters and one she shared with her husband.
Sarah Griffin, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that she had worked for the firm since 1994 and colleagues regarded her as a "trusted member of staff". By March 2016, Boote was "responsible for credit control, managing the company bank and credit control functions" and "initiated payments to clients in respect of refunds or overpayments of insurance premiums".
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But, in early 2017, the mother-of-two began a campaign of theft that ultimately saw her redirect £255,854.32 to four bank accounts linked to her. Rather than transferring the money for refunds to clients, she would instead send the funds to herself before creating elaborate paper trails to cover up her dishonesty.
Boote, of Lower Lane in Fazakerley, was rumbled after a client noticed a £224 refund had not been paid to their account while she was on leave in January 2020. A co-worker tasked with addressing the complaint then found the money was sent to Boote's daughter’s account, triggering an internal investigation.
Forensic accountants subsequently discovered a total of 96 fraudulent payments over a two-and-a-half year period. Boote was then dismissed and later admitted her crimes under interview with police.
Lionel Grieg, defending, told the court that his client was "deeply remorseful" and that her actions had spiralled out of control as she sought to address her depression by stealing to fund an extravagant lifestyle. He stated that she had begun to pay back the cash through an inheritance from her aunt and added: "She has not only let her family down but also her work colleagues, who she has worked with for years and who trusted her implicitly."
Boote looked down silently in the dock as she was jailed for 40 months in March last year after admitting theft, with Recorder David Knifton KC saying that her actions had devastated many of her colleagues and seriously damaged the company’s reputation while she used them for her own enjoyment. He added: "The funds were used by you to support your lavish lifestyle, particularly expensive holidays."
Boote was hauled back before the same court today, Friday, for an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Ben Berkson, appearing for the prosecution on this occasion, outlined how she benefitted from her criminality to the tune of £134,853.62 - "reduced from £250,000 because the defendant has paid off" some of the sum stolen.
It was also found that she currently has available assets of £79,922. Recorder Michael Blakey ruled that this figure must be paid back within three months or she will be given an additional eight months in prison in default.
Boote - who appeared in the dock wearing a black jacket over a blouse and with long dark hair - would still be required to cough up the money in this event. The funds will be passed on to the company after being seized.
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