Crooked HMRC worker who stole £200k taxpayer cash to pay off mortgage is jailed

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A crooked tax officer who embezzled thousands of pounds from HMRC to pay off her mortgage has been jailed for two years.Joanne Connell took advantage of her position in the bankruptcy team to swipe £193,000 between April and September 2022.The 37-year-old from East Kilbride used her inside knowledge of the HMRC computer self-assessment system to add bogus credits to the records of two unsuspecting taxpayers.She then paid those credits into her own bank account.

She used the funds to clear off her £80,000 mortgage and settle other outstanding debts.Connell was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to a charge of embezzlement.Les Brown, Procurator Fiscal for South Strathclyde Dumfries and Galloway, said: “As an HMRC employee, Joanne Connell committed an appalling breach of trust.“She flagrantly abused her position to embezzle thousands of pounds by accessing a database that allowed her to carry out this offence and steal from taxpayers.“This case demonstrates that those who seek to exploit public funds for their own personal gain will be held fully to account for their crimes.“We will always prosecute in such cases when it is in the public interest and where there is evidence to do so.”Connell had worked for HMRC for approximately 15 years in various roles.At the time of the offence, she was an administrative officer in the bankruptcy team.The court heard that Connell created fraudulent credits while working from home using her HMRC laptop.Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the