A council worker in charge of housing benefit payments has been spared jail after scamming her employer out of almost £500,000.
Joella Preston, who worked for Dartford and Sevenoaks councils in Kent, fraudulently obtained £493,487 over the course of nine years by setting up false claims for people she knew.
A court heard how she had used the stolen funds on online slot machines, driven by a gambling addiction.
Preston's fraudulent behaviour unravelled in 2023, when the 44-year-old was on sick leave for anxiety.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Her fraud spanned from September 2014 to July 2023, during which she gambled £776,938 in total, recovering £355,709 through winnings.
When Preston was arrested in February 2024, she described it as "a relief".
She had been employed by Dartford Council since 2001.
The fraudster was handed a suspended sentence at Maidstone Crown Court
|At Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, Preston was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
The fraudster had earlier pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Defence lawyer Christopher Johnston told the court the defendant had expressed "genuine and deep" remorse for her actions and has taken action to overcome her gambling addition, including by attending sessions with both Gamble Aware and Gamblers Anonymous.
Recorder John Brooke-Smith said a jail sentence could "stop and potentially reverse" progress she had made.
LATEST DEVLEOPMENTS:
He said: "I have no doubt it will be seen as the court failing to protect victims, failing to send out deterrent messages.
"So, I stress again, it is because the mitigating factors are wholly exceptional and unusually powerful and persuasive.
"I am convinced that it is by far and away the best way to steer you away from any relapse."
Preston was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirements.
A graph shows the estimated benefit overpayments made due to fraud and error
|GB NEWS
In a joint statement, Dartford and Sevenoaks councils said: “We regret to confirm that a long-serving employee, who was in a position of trust, used their detailed knowledge to abuse the system and commit fraud.
“The fraud, involving DWP funding, was uncovered by council staff following routine checks of benefit claims.
“Police were informed straight away, and the two councils have done everything possible to assist with the investigations.
“We are grateful for the work undertaken by Kent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing this case to a conclusion.”
More From GB News