logo
Bookkeeper jailed for 185k fraud from Oxfordshire farm

Bookkeeper jailed for 185k fraud from Oxfordshire farm

BBC News14-05-2025

A bookkeeper has been jailed after fraudulently transferring more than £185,000 into her personal and business accounts over a seven-year period.Sally Burborough, 58, of Bicester Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, worked at a farm near Great Haseley, Oxfordshire, between June 2016 and January 2023, and made the transfers after the death of the owner.She was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday.Burborough pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position on 4 June 2024 at Oxford Magistrates' Court.
During the investigation, Thames Valley Police obtained a pre-charge restraint against Burborough. It meant the proceeds from a house sale, that had been undertaken at the time of her arrest, was held back from her until the trial concluded. During the sentencing hearing, the judge concluded that a full proceeds of crimes hearing (POCA) would take place, the force said.Investigating officer Det Con Ross Fleming said the force was "keeping an open mind about the potential for other victims".He appealed to anyone who felt they might be a victim to get in touch.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man arrested on suspicion of breaking into Windsor Castle grounds
Man arrested on suspicion of breaking into Windsor Castle grounds

North Wales Chronicle

time5 hours ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Man arrested on suspicion of breaking into Windsor Castle grounds

Thames Valley Police said the man allegedly entered 'restricted grounds' at the royal residence at just after 1pm on Sunday. The force added that he was 'quickly challenged' by Metropolitan Police officers and did not enter the inner grounds of the castle. The Metropolitan Police said the man, aged in his 30s, was arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs. He was then passed into the custody of Thames Valley Police. Thames Valley Police said the man has been bailed and an 'investigation is ongoing'. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: 'At just after 1pm on Sunday a man entered restricted grounds at Windsor Castle. 'He was quickly challenged by Met police officers and arrested. He did not enter the inner grounds of Windsor Castle.' It is a criminal offence to trespass on a protected site under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

For every disabled parking bay there are 52 Blue Badge holders as scheme is exploited and oversubscribed
For every disabled parking bay there are 52 Blue Badge holders as scheme is exploited and oversubscribed

Daily Mail​

time7 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

For every disabled parking bay there are 52 Blue Badge holders as scheme is exploited and oversubscribed

There are increasing concerns the Blue Badge scheme for people with disabilities is both oversubscribed and 'shockingly' exploited as cases of misuse spiral in recent years. For every disabled parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders, according to estimations in a new report published by This is based on almost 3.3million Blue Badge holders and just 63,000 parking spaces across the country. And demand for permits continues to rise with the rate of new applications increasing by 31 per cent between 2022 and 2024. In total, 1.3million new applications were made over the three-year period - and that's on top of the 1.5million renewal applications requested by existing holders. Of these 2.8million applications in total, just 245,566 - around 9 per cent - were rejected as the scheme continues to be overwhelmed. The report follows the release of figures that revealed that reported misuse cases relating to Blue Badge misuse have increased by over 1,000 per cent in less than a decade, highlighting a 'serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse'. The comparison site said the oversubscription issue is also being exacerbated by other drivers wrongly using disabled parking spaces when they shouldn't. According to a Freedom of Information request to 207 UK councils (of which 182 responded with data), 705,310 penalty charge notices were issued for misuse of disabled parking bays between 2022 and 2024. In a poll of 2,000 UK drivers, a third (36 per cent) of those who have a blue badge (11 per cent) said they've turned up somewhere needing to park, only to find someone without a permit using designated spaces. A similar volume said there aren't enough accessible disabled spaces where they live. Two thirds said they are often left with no other option but to park in a standard-sized bay, which do not provide access for wheelchairs or to those with mobility issues, while two in five have been forced to drive elsewhere to find suitable parking provisions. Last month, the nation's parking trade association vowed to crackdown Blue Badge fraud having seen instances of misuse spiral. Instances of reported abuse of the scheme have grown from hundreds per year in 2016 to over 3,500 cases by 2023 in what the British Parking Association (BPA) called a blatant 'undermining of the integrity' of the scheme. Permit thefts are also becoming a bigger issue, with the number of Blue Badges stolen in London alone spiralling by 400 per cent between 2014 and 2023. Blue Badge misuse is deemed a criminal offence that could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge. It can also result in court prosecution, and legal action may also be taken in circumstances where false information has been provided to acquire a Blue Badge. Rhydian Jones, commercial director at said the study highlights that the 'system is struggling' due to an imbalance of permits versus parking spaces - and other drivers abusing the rules. 'It's clear that more needs to be done - both to increase the number of accessible bays and to prevent misuse,' he said. The British Parking Association has warned there is a 'serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse of the Blue Badge scheme' Borrowing Granny's badge... The range of permit abuse identified by National Blue Badge - an enforcement agency working on behalf of local authorities to identify misuse - between 2016 and 2023 included a range of issues, from intentional theft, organised fraud, producing and selling counterfeit badges online, and using deceased people's badges. However, the most common type of abuse is the often presumed 'innocent' act of 'borrowing Granny's badge' just for free and convenient parking. 'For every badge being misused, a space has been denied to a genuine badge holder, potentially preventing them from attending appointments, socialising and being able to get around independently,' the BPA said in its May report. It went on to call for local authorities and councils to be given greater ability and mechanisms to effectively tackle the issue and put a stop to this ongoing abuse. 'Perpetrators are currently not deterred by the limited consequences for their action,' the trade body said. The most common type of scheme abuse is the often presumed 'innocent' act of 'borrowing Granny's badge' just for free and convenient parking, the BPA said Alison Tooze, policy officer at the BPA, said: 'The statistics around the level of Blue Badge misuse and fraud are shocking. 'We cannot continue to ignore this issue, especially when the victims are some of the most vulnerable in our society. 'Badge holders rely on accessible parking to carry out their day-to-day activities and for many it is a vital part of living an independent life. 'Perpetrators of blue badge misuse and fraud deprive genuine badge holders of this right to freedom, whilst costing ordinary taxpayers millions every year. This must stop.' This is Money raised the statistics with the Department for Transport. A DfT spokesperson said: 'Exploitation of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is a vital resource helping many people travel with confidence. 'We are supporting the police to tackle this issue by working closely with local authorities and have strengthened their powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store