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02 Oct 24
19:56
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Date Joined:
10 Dec 01
An ex-finance officer at a local council has been jailed after he stole almost £1m to fund his gambling addiction.
Alan Doig, 57, abused his position at Gedling Borough Council to transfer £934,343.30 into his own bank accounts between 2003 and 2022.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Doig was employed as a Senior Assistant Accountant and was responsible for the council’s creditors system, which included the ability to generate invoices and make payments to suppliers.
Over a near 20-year period, Doig established a highly sophisticated system to divert regular payments from council accounts using his knowledge of the organisation and his position of trust. His understanding of financial systems gave him the ability to bypass the systems designed to prevent fraud and without it being flagged as suspicious for many years.
The fraud was discovered when discrepancies were found within the financial systems by a colleague. This initiated an internal investigation which showed substantial amounts of funds were diverted into two different bank accounts belonging to Doig.
He was suspended with immediate effect and, after an internal investigation, was dismissed from his position with the council.
Nottinghamshire Police was informed and a search warrant was carried out at Doig’s home address on 6 October 2022.
Doig attended a voluntary interview and was questioned under caution. He made initial admissions, and as the investigation continued went on to make further admissions when additional information was presented, stating he had stolen vast sums of money between 2003 and 2022 to fund his gambling addiction – and that he’d spent all the money on various online gambling sites.
The police investigation found he had facilitated 86 fraudulent transactions to the value of £934,343.30.
Doig, of Bedale Road, Daybrook, went on to plead guilty to obtaining a money transfer by deception and fraud by abuse of position.
At his sentencing hearing today (2 October), Doig’s defence counsel said he felt “truly embarrassed and ashamed” of his actions, adding gambling had led him down a “long and dark path”.
Jailing him for five years, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said he had stolen the equivalent of 6% of the council's entire budget for one year. She told him:
Alan Doig, 57, abused his position at Gedling Borough Council to transfer £934,343.30 into his own bank accounts between 2003 and 2022.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Doig was employed as a Senior Assistant Accountant and was responsible for the council’s creditors system, which included the ability to generate invoices and make payments to suppliers.
Over a near 20-year period, Doig established a highly sophisticated system to divert regular payments from council accounts using his knowledge of the organisation and his position of trust. His understanding of financial systems gave him the ability to bypass the systems designed to prevent fraud and without it being flagged as suspicious for many years.
The fraud was discovered when discrepancies were found within the financial systems by a colleague. This initiated an internal investigation which showed substantial amounts of funds were diverted into two different bank accounts belonging to Doig.
He was suspended with immediate effect and, after an internal investigation, was dismissed from his position with the council.
Nottinghamshire Police was informed and a search warrant was carried out at Doig’s home address on 6 October 2022.
Doig attended a voluntary interview and was questioned under caution. He made initial admissions, and as the investigation continued went on to make further admissions when additional information was presented, stating he had stolen vast sums of money between 2003 and 2022 to fund his gambling addiction – and that he’d spent all the money on various online gambling sites.
The police investigation found he had facilitated 86 fraudulent transactions to the value of £934,343.30.
Doig, of Bedale Road, Daybrook, went on to plead guilty to obtaining a money transfer by deception and fraud by abuse of position.
At his sentencing hearing today (2 October), Doig’s defence counsel said he felt “truly embarrassed and ashamed” of his actions, adding gambling had led him down a “long and dark path”.
Jailing him for five years, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said he had stolen the equivalent of 6% of the council's entire budget for one year. She told him:
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Confused why everyone who embezzles funds these days are always using it to gamble. Where are all the stories of people who embezzle to fund drink, drugs, cars, holidays, and sex?
And this is how we ended up with KYC, source of funds and related malarkey. Half embezzlement; half money laundering; half ...well, that's enough halves to be getting on with.
Think the majority start off with the intention of winning so they can put money back but end up chasing faster than Mark Labbett
I take it the bookies didn`t ask him for a wage slip or proof of income.
if he was blowing it online, just ask the bookies for the money back as it wasn't his to lose.
account history will show the amount each bookmaker is due to pay Gedling Borough Council
account history will show the amount each bookmaker is due to pay Gedling Borough Council
If money was for alcohol he would never have been sober long enough to embezzle it.
Hayden is right. Probably started off with a paltry amount. Lost. Stole more to win and put it back. Lost more. Stole more to get that back ........ and on and on and on.
Sad thing is that he is probably a decent guy who just fell down the slippery slope of addictive gambling.
Gambling is more addictive than crack cocaine to some. Seen it happening to friends. Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife.
Hayden is right. Probably started off with a paltry amount. Lost. Stole more to win and put it back. Lost more. Stole more to get that back ........ and on and on and on.
Sad thing is that he is probably a decent guy who just fell down the slippery slope of addictive gambling.
Gambling is more addictive than crack cocaine to some. Seen it happening to friends. Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife.
Agree with mighty mac
Probably a decent bloke who just lost his way, and was thinking one big win and he'd pay it back and nobody would know
I've known a few over the years, probably not on the same scale, but not far off
Employer must be looking at themselves... How did they not notice?
Probably a decent bloke who just lost his way, and was thinking one big win and he'd pay it back and nobody would know
I've known a few over the years, probably not on the same scale, but not far off
Employer must be looking at themselves... How did they not notice?
'Senior Assistant Accountant' sounds like the kind of thing you bestow on the teaboy to make him feel better about only earning £18k pa.
what a joke
used to be addicted to heroin,and so fooking what
used to be addicted to heroin,and so fooking what
Any form of addiction is no joke. It can take hold of an individual's life and family to unimaginable extent only they themselves can testify eg imagine breathing. To most this is just a formality without any discomfort, difficulty or distress. An addiction is similar except it works the opposite way to a negative effect. And, it's beyond control given the environment and conduits.
I hope the recipients and beneficiaries of his ill-gotten gains have been asked to return the monies they received and exploited from this gambling addict.
I hope the recipients and beneficiaries of his ill-gotten gains have been asked to return the monies they received and exploited from this gambling addict.
Reminds me of this film if you havent seen it. Watch it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP_3BsEl9o8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP_3BsEl9o8
I hope the recipients and beneficiaries of his ill-gotten gains have been asked to return the monies they received and exploited from this gambling addict. Bingo!
Remember when deep into any addiction. You cant stop even though you want to stop.
From 2003 to 2022 !!!!!! Wtf were the auditors doing?
I worked in the accounts dept for a company back in the 70s where a fella in our office was found to have been pocketing cash receipts to fund his 2nd hand car business. He was caught on the first audit after he started doing it.
You see it in lots of other cases where someone has been stealing money for years. I can’t understand how it hasn’t been picked up by an audit. Council should sue their auditors for negligence.
I worked in the accounts dept for a company back in the 70s where a fella in our office was found to have been pocketing cash receipts to fund his 2nd hand car business. He was caught on the first audit after he started doing it.
You see it in lots of other cases where someone has been stealing money for years. I can’t understand how it hasn’t been picked up by an audit. Council should sue their auditors for negligence.
Local council authorities = scourge of society (imo)…….
scourge of society = authority on local council (imo).......
Repeat contracts like repeat prescription service…….
As they carted him off a local reported enquired about the rumours he had "done the lot" following the opinions of a shy and humble ex-professional punter.
An indignant Doig replied: "ffs give me some credit, I wouldn't touch fArty's opinions, even with stolen money."
An indignant Doig replied: "ffs give me some credit, I wouldn't touch fArty's opinions, even with stolen money."
Equally mystified on the long-term theft without being caught - financial systems are supposed to be proof against single individuals - whatever their seniority or authority - being able to subvert checks, so IMO the audit failing is not failing directly to spot the missing money, but failure to have spotted the missing checks and balances which would have enabled it to be spotted.
Does it mean your a gambling addict if you are spinning the wheel to pay back what you've lost. Not sure it's the same thing as addicts just blowing money away.
"Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife". That's good of you mac. It's why i've never had heavy gamblers as friends. Just racing enthusiasts that gamble in "buttons"
"Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife". That's good of you mac. It's why i've never had heavy gamblers as friends. Just racing enthusiasts that gamble in "buttons"
Accountants have a liking to fudge…….
Council members are good with tenders imv……£2 over Joe
…..
Ok no problem
Ta much……
Council members are good with tenders imv……£2 over Joe
…..Ok no problem
Ta much……
howard 03 Oct 24 12:17
Does it mean your a gambling addict if you are spinning the wheel to pay back what you've lost. Not sure it's the same thing as addicts just blowing money away.
"Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife". That's good of you mac. It's why i've never had heavy gamblers as friends. Just racing enthusiasts that gamble in "buttons"
A late friend who played big had a temper destroyed many a tv control…..
Does it mean your a gambling addict if you are spinning the wheel to pay back what you've lost. Not sure it's the same thing as addicts just blowing money away.
"Personally bailed them out time and time again. And they just done it again and again. Grown men standing on my doorstep in tears on a Friday evening having lost their wages and frightened to face the wife". That's good of you mac. It's why i've never had heavy gamblers as friends. Just racing enthusiasts that gamble in "buttons"
A late friend who played big had a temper destroyed many a tv control…..
I was going to the dogs one night at Harringay and outside the bus station the three card mob were operating the buss driver opened his wage packet and put five pounds down then he put another five pounds down the rick said its there for sure put another five down he said I only have four pounds ten the rick said I will lend you ten shillings.
He had worked all week to lose it in about five mins.
He had worked all week to lose it in about five mins.
Not bad 5 years "hard labour" for £934,343.30 .Most folks do 40 years for that amount.
five yeras , do half
thats an alreet graft....350grand ish a year, well worth doing the time for
thats an alreet graft....350grand ish a year, well worth doing the time for
I'd do that too if I could keep the money, and not blow it on gambling with nothing to show for it. Otherwise, proceeds of crime act (poca) will be thrown at you to sequestrate ill-gotten gains.
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