A FINANCIAL director who swindled her company out of £825,000 to feed her “crazy” online gambling addiction has just over £2,000 left which can be seized.
Lauren Farr, 35, was jailed earlier this year after she admitted conning We Fight Any Claim in Cwmbran where she worked as a senior executive.
The mother-of-two, of Spring Grove, Cwmbran, gambled around £1.5 million through betting sites such as Paddy Power and Betfred.
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Appearing via video link from Eastwood Park women’s prison, Farr was back at Cardiff Crown Court to face her Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.
The judge, Recorder David Elias QC, heard how she had benefitted by £825,751.60 from her crime.
The available amount of her assets are £2,044.72 and she has three months to hand it over or face an extra two months in prison.
Farr was jailed for two years and eight months in January after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
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During her sentencing hearing, Alexander Greenwood, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “She had worked for the company for 13 years.
“The defendant started off as an administrative worker and worked herself up to being the financial director with a £70,000 salary. She is a qualified chartered accountant.
“When the fraud was discovered, she was on gardening leave after she had been selected for redundancy.
“She initially admitted she had stolen £60,000. She said she was an alcoholic and that she had a crazy gambling problem.
“The majority of the £825,751.60 was made on online bets to Paddy Power and Betfred.”
Mr Greenwood added: “She would fabricate and falsify invoices and pay them into her own bank account.
“She said it got out of control and she was gambling to win the money back.”
Ieuan Bennett, representing Farr, said: “The defendant was drinking alone and gambling online.
“It started off as fun but it soon got out of control. It snowballed and it was impossible to stop.
“She had a decent future that has been thrown away. Her fall from grace has been massive.
The court was told Farr was a “good wife and mother” who was of previous good character with no previous convictions.
Judge Neil Bidder QC told her: “This was a sophisticated and well concealed fraud and it has caused very substantial losses to the company.
“It has had a detrimental effect and I conclude, I’m sure, it has contributed to employees being made redundant.
“You abused your position of trust and responsibility.”
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