Wednesday 2nd December, 2015

A former accountant at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School has been jailed for stealing £54,000 while working at the school in 2014.

Anne-Marie Jordan, 36, admitted six counts of fraud by abuse of position at Oxford Crown Court in October and was sentenced to 32 months.

Her partner Shylock Utsiwegota was jailed for 16 months after he admitted possessing criminal property – £21,000 which Miss Jordan transferred to his account.

The fraud was uncovered by a young apprentice who noticed something was wrong when Jordan attempted to make a payment of £12,700. According to the Prosecutor, Miss Cunningham recognised Jordan’s partner Utsiwegota’s name on an invoice.

Miss Jordan who has two prior convictions for theft, was working at the business school between August and September 2014 when she committed the fraud.

The court heard how Jordan originally told her partner the university was giving them the money as part of a 'relocation package' after they moved to Oxford from Reading so she could take the job.

She started by transferring a modest £6,350 into her partner’s account on 5th August, followed by a more significant amount of £13,500.

In September she helped herself to another £6,500 followed by the biggest single payment of £15,000. She then attempted to make another £12,700 payment which was discovered.

By the time the business school suspended Jordan from her job, the money had already been spent.