Fraudster spared prison told to pay back £221k

A WOMAN who benefited to the tune of more than £900,000 by fleecing her employer has been ordered to pay back £221,000.

- ROB KENNEDY

> Danielle Longstaffe

Scheming Danielle Longstaffe was spared prison last December because she was pregnant, after defrauding her firm out of huge sums.

At the time, Newcastle Crown Court heard the fraud was to the value of £370,000. Now, at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, it was said the benefit figure was £920,285.20.

Her “available amount” was £221,818.50, which she must pay back within three months or face two years in prison in default.

At her sentencing hearing, the court heard she carried out the fraud because she was being chased by loan sharks.

She transferred £218,000 to herself and others and also hired vehicles using the company’s supplier.

A judge said he had to have regard to Longstaffe’s unborn child while sentencing her and she avoided the prospect of having to give birth in prison when she got a suspended sentence.

She worked for Kaefer Ltd in Jarrow as a transport administrator and had been employed there since 2012.