A finance boss who stole more than £2million over 30 years from the university he worked at and blew the money on 'fine dining and holidays' has been jailed. 'Dishonest' David Hall used his position as head of accounts at the University of Brighton, East Sussex, to embezzle money over a period of three decades and covered his tracks through fraudulent entries.
Jailing the 64-year-old, a judge branded the scale of his fraudulent activity as 'breath-taking'. His Honour Judge Roger Chapple sentenced the greedy crook to six years in jail at Hove Crown Court after a joint investigation by police and financial investigators uncovered the complex string of financial cover-ups.
Hall had previously admitted to charges of fraud by abuse of position, theft by an employee and false accounting. HHJ Chapple told him: "The scale and breadth of your dishonesty over 30 years is breath-taking.
"It was systematic, persistent dishonesty causing stress, heartache and pressure on other employees. Where did it go? On holidays and fine dining.”
The court heard Hall abused his position as the university head of income and payments to embezzle around £2.4m over a period of around 30 years. He covered up his activities through fraudulent entries in the university's accounts.
The matter was reported to Sussex police in November of 2021, after staff at the university uncovered the fraudulent activity. The university commissioned an independent financial investigation, which, alongside the police investigation, uncovered a complex string of financial cover-ups only revealed through forensic scrutiny.
Hall, from the village of Ringmer, East Sussex, told the court his fraud began as a way of covering his personal debts. However, Judge Chapple told Hall his actions had been motivated by greed, and that he had blown the millions he stole on 'holidays and fine dining'.
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
He added that most ordinary members of the public who face debt 'would not dream' of matching his level of dishonesty. Hall was jailed for six years for his offences - a reduced sentence due to him pleading guilty to his offences at the earliest opportunity.
A confiscation order is also due to be determined focused on Hall’s illicitly gained funds, though the money stolen is unlikely to be fully recovered. Rose Horan, an investigator for Sussex Police, detailed the impact his fraud had had on his fellow members of staff at the university.
She said after the sentencing hearing: “Over time, Hall’s activity became more difficult for him to conceal. After an audit uncovered the scale of Hall’s embezzlement, the University of Brighton was quick to report the fraud to Sussex Police and their support throughout the investigation has been invaluable in bringing David Hall to justice.
"Despite 30 years of dishonesty, the judge considered Mr Hall's candour once his actions were uncovered, and reduced what would have been a nine-year sentence by one-third. The university's impact statement categorised the damage done, including its impact on fellow staff.
"Confiscation will take its course over the next few months but it is likely that the full amount will not be recovered."
