'Fall from grace' for top boss after credit card con

A MANAGING director earning a six-figure salary at North East-based Arriva PLC defrauded his employer to the tune of more than £100,000 in a company credit card con.

- ROB KENNEDY

Sean Forster admitted fraud

Sean Forster abused his senior position in the passenger transport firm by using the card for personal expenditure amid what a court heard was a “culture of spending on company credit cards’ which was seen by some as a “perk”.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Forster, 60, of Rothbury Drive, Ashington, Northumberland, was sacked by Arriva when the fraud came to light. However he has now obtained another senior management role at a company, again earning a six-figure salary.

The court heard Forster worked for Arriva PLC from 1993 until 2022 and was a managing director from 2014. Rachel Kelly, prosecuting, said he was issued with a company credit card to make purchases “in the ordinary course of business’, such as for travel, hotels and hospitality.