Finance manager who stole £173,000 from care home owned by relative is jailed

A finance manager who stole more than £173,000 from a care home owned by a relative has been jailed for six years.

Bradley Young, 24, took the money while working at Platinum Care At Home, in Hampshire, between February 2018 and June 2020.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position against the care home at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday.

Platinum Care at Home’s owner contacted Hampshire Constabulary in July 2020 to report that Young had transferred £173,183 to his own personal bank account during the course of his employment.

This activity came to light when the company’s owner discovered the accounts were not adding up and hired an accountant, the court heard.

Officers investigating the case arrested Young on July 19 2020, on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and he was released on conditional police bail while an investigation was carried out.

He was charged in February this year and admitted the offence.

Detective Constable Jenny Gibson said: “Young abused the trust of his employer, who is also a family member, to steal almost £200,000 for his own selfish gain.

“This has understandably resulted in a period of great distress for the company’s owner and indeed the company itself.

“I hope that this result sends a clear message to those who commit fraud that their actions won’t go unnoticed and that this type of behaviour will be investigated fully.”