Latest news with #GavinBrown
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Jailed for 29 years, four men behind 'corrosive' campaign of corruption that drained NHS of millions
Four men behind a £6.5million campaign of corruption and bribery at health boards across Scotland have been jailed for a total of 29 years. Their crimes involved the awarding of lucrative NHS contracts to an Ayrshire telecoms firm set up in a garden shed. Jurors heard details of widespread corruption, including managers being bribed into awarding large contracts with gifts worth tens of thousands of pounds. Adam Sharoudi, 41, of Motherwell, and Gavin Brown, 48, of Prestwick in Ayrshire, ran Oricom Ltd - a firm which effectively started from a shed but went on to secure major deals. The pair were able to win the contracts with the help of NHS workers Alan Hush, 68, and 60-year-old Gavin Cox, who accepted lucrative payments and gifts. All four men denied the accusations but in April were found guilty following a three-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Hush was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of nine charges. Cox was locked up for six years for the two charges jurors convicted him of. Sharoudi was also handed an eight year term having been convicted of seven charges and Brown was jailed for seven years for a total of six. The charges spanning between 2010 and 2015 included bribery, corruption, fraud, theft as well as others under the Proceeds of Crime Act. One stated Sharoudi and Brown did 'acquire, use and possess' a total of £5,719,244 of 'criminal property' paid by NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Judge Lord Arthurson said: 'Such is the corrosive effect of corruption upon commercial and public life, individuals such as yourselves should expect to be dealt with robustly by the courts. 'The public should expect their fellow citizens should not seek to subvert public officials in their duties. 'Such officials should note that, succumbing to bribery, will result in the handing down of significant terms. 'The reach and character of the corruption and, in particular, the corrupt relationship engaged by all of you was on a grand scale.' The court heard how Hush, of Edinburgh, received handouts including hotel stays, concert tickets, meals and a laptop for his help in getting business for Oricom, including a £750,000 contract with NHS Lothian. Cox, of Glasgow, handed Oricom information to give them a 'commercial advantage' to secure business. His 'rewards' were said to have included thousands of pounds of Barrhead Travel holiday vouchers which he spent on trips to New York and Lanzarote. The four accused all gave evidence in the case which sat for 65 days - testimony described by the judge yesterday as 'self serving, arrogant and mendacious'. The court heard how all four maintained their innocence. Hush's lawyer Keith Stewart said the jury had concluded there was a 'corrupt relationship' between Hush and Oricom carried out in 'plain sight' and based on 'budgets hotels and discounted rail fares'. Gordon Martin, defending Cox, said he was 'ashamed at the findings of guilt' as he had been 'a public servant for 31 years and rightfully proud of that service'. Sharoudi's defence KC Brian McConnachie told the hearing the NHS work carried out by Oricom was 'necessary' and it was not a 'situation of job creation' for money. He said Sharoudi had overcome a number of issues growing up to gain a first class honours degree in maths and philosophy before helping build Oricom. Tony Graham KC, defending Brown, said he was someone who had 'worked every day since he left school' providing 'employment for many others over many years'. Sharoudi and Brown have also been banned from being a company director for the next 10 years. Following the hearing, Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This was a betrayal of public trust. 'These four men colluded to create a sophisticated criminal scheme. The public will rightly be shocked by the scale of their criminality. 'The scale of this offending against our public health service is particularly egregious.' She said the men will now face separate hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act, adding: 'This case demonstrates clearly that those who indulge in corrupt practices for their own personal gain will be brought to book regardless of the time it takes to bring offenders to justice. 'The Proceeds of Crime proceedings that will follow demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay and that illicitly obtained funds are recovered where possible.'
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Telegraph
Four men jailed over £6m NHS fraud
Four men have been jailed for a total of 29 years after committing an 'outrageous' £6 million fraud against the Scottish NHS. Gavin Brown and Adam Sharoudi established an IT firm and used their connections with Gavin Cox and Alan Hush, senior health service employees, to obtain lucrative telecoms contracts, including one valued at more than £3 million. Their offences, which took place between 2010 and 2017, included bribery, corruption and other offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Hush and Sharoudi were additionally convicted of fraud. At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, Brown, 48, and Sharoudi, 41, were jailed for seven and eight years respectively, while Hush, 68, and Cox, 60, were jailed for eight and six years. Lord Arthurson said while sentencing that each of the men was 'self-serving, arrogant and mendacious', adding they had 'subverted public trust in NHS management'. A 16-week trial heard that Oricom, the IT firm, did 'acquire, use and possess' a total of £5,719,244 worth of 'criminal property' that was paid for by NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Luxurious handouts The firm was founded by Brown in a shed in Irvine, Ayrshire in 2008 and Sharoudi later joined as a director. Sharoudi became friends with Hush, who was telecommunications manager at NHS Lothian and then NHS Scotland video conferencing manager. Cox was head of IT and infrastructure at NHS Lanarkshire. Their crimes were uncovered by chance after the theft of two NHS-issued mobile phones, which led to thousands of text messages and emails being discovered on multiple laptops, computers and mobiles. In 2015, Oricom's offices were raided by investigators from NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services. An investigation found Hush and Cox gave Oricom 'commercially sensitive information' in return for £88,000 worth of cash, gifts and holidays. Hush was handed Eurostar train tickets, stays at the Troy and Re Hotels in London, a laptop, an iPad, meals and concert tickets to see Paul Simon, Rufus Wainwright and Patti Smith for his part in helping Oricom secure the contracts. Cox's 'rewards' were said to include hospitality at the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, a night at the Loch Green Hotel in Troon and a meal at Elliots in Prestwick, as well as holiday vouchers that funded his trips to New York and Lanzarote. He also denied ever getting a series of cash handouts from Oricom. In total, Hush was given £18,231 of cash handouts and gifts, while Cox was handed more than £70,000. 'Manipulated' the system Gordon Young, head of NHS Scotland counter-fraud services, described their actions as 'outrageous'. 'They were in a position of trust within the NHS and they have manipulated the procurement process for their own benefit,' he said. 'We hear every single day from politicians and from people that work in the service about how hard folk are working to try and keep things going. 'The vast majority of NHS workers are honest, hardworking people who have only got their patients' and their services' best interest at heart, but these individuals have taken advantage of the system for their own benefit. Union leaders, however, said the case highlighted the lack of resources for countering NHS fraud. Matt McLaughlin, Unison Scotland's head of health, said cuts to backroom services and the use of private companies in the NHS and the wider public sector 'present opportunities for people to behave in this way'. 'I think it's absolutely right for the public to be angry and concerned,' he said.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Four jailed over 'outrageous' £6m NHS Scotland contract fraud
Four men have been jailed for a total of 29 years over a £6m NHS contract Brown and Adam Sharoudi used their connections with senior health service employees Gavin Cox and Alan Hush to obtain lucrative telecoms contracts between 2010 and investigation into Oricom Ltd, established by Brown and Sharoudi, found Hush and Cox gave the firm "commercially sensitive information" in return for £88,000 worth of cash, gifts and directors Brown, 48, and Sharoudi, 41, were jailed for seven and eight years respectively, while Hush, 68, and Cox, 60, were jailed for eight and six years. Sentencing, Lord Arthurson said each of the men were "self-serving, arrogant and mendacious", adding they had "subverted public trust in NHS management".The group's crimes were only uncovered after the theft of two NHS-issued mobile phones, which led to thousands of text messages and emails being discovered on multiple laptops, computers and mobiles. A 16-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard Oricom did "acquire, use and possess" a total of £5,719,244 of "criminal property" paid for by NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as NHS Ayrshire and single contract was worth £3.1m, the trial was offices were raided by investigators from NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services in 2015 following concerns into how the deals were secured. Brown founded Oricom in a shed in Irvine, Ayrshire in 2008 and Sharoudi later joined as a became friends with Hush, who was telecommunications manager at NHS Lothian and then NHS Scotland video conferencing manager.A text exchange between Sahroudi and Hush, who was described during the trial as "the big cheese in the NHS telecoms department, showed how the NHS manager wanted to "earn some commission".Hush claimed that had been a joke and any money he received had come from his late the court found he "ferreted about" in a "deception" to obtain false "dodgy" quotes to help the firm get the lucrative return he was handed Eurostar train tickets, stays at the Troy and Re Hotels in London, a laptop, an iPad, meals, and concert tickets to see Paul Simon, Rufus Wainwright and Patti Smith for his part in helping Oricom secure the contracts. Cox, of Cathcart, Glasgow was head of IT and infrastructure at NHS denied giving Oricom the "heads up" with information to give them a "commercial advantage" to secure was suggested it was "not a level playing field" for other had been a guest at Cox's surprise 50th birthday "rewards" were said to include hospitality at the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, a night at the Loch Green Hotel in Troon and a meal at Elliots in heard he also got thousands of pounds worth of Barrhead Travel holiday vouchers which allowed him to go on trips to New York and said he believed they were gifts to his wife – a newspaper advertising manager – from Brown's partner who she had become friends also denied ever getting a series of cash handouts from used some of the money he was given to pay for an "extension and landscaping" at a property in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, which he claimed had been paid for using an inheritance from his father. 'Taken advantage' In total, Hush was given £18,231 of cash bungs and gifts, while Cox was handed more than £70, also knew another NHS Lanarkshire telecoms official who has since the charges was one that Oricom in effect bribed him to secure work including a near £700,000 company is still Young, head of NHS Scotland counter-fraud services, described their actions as "outrageous".He said: "They were in a position of trust within the NHS and they have manipulated the procurement process for their own benefit."We hear every single day from politicians and from people that work in the service about how hard folk are working to try and keep things going."The vast majority of NHS workers are honest hardworking people who have only got their patients and their services best interest at heart, but these individuals have taken advantage of the system for their own benefit." 'Angry and concerned' Unison Scotland's head of health, Matt McLaughlin, said the case was an indictment of the "lack of resources" put into countering fraud within the health said: "Politicians for years have been talking about cutting backroom services, cutting backroom staff to make efficiencies."I think the use of private money and private companies in the NHS and in the wider public sector present opportunities for people to behave in this way."And that's why we need strong procurement systems. I think it's absolutely right for the public to be angry and concerned." A Scottish government spokesperson said steps had been taken to "strengthen oversight and accountability" across NHS BoardsThey added: "We have reviewed procurement practices and moving toward a single national framework for business conduct to support fraud prevention and deliver greater accountability, as recommended in the Cumberlege Review."We will ensure that Scotland's NHS continues to uphold the highest standards of public service and transparency, and that the lessons of this case are learned from."
New York Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
At a Legendary Manhattan Townhouse, a Party With Great Art and Great Shoes
In early May, fashion and art types from all over prepared to descend on New York. First, there was the Met Gala, then the opening of Frieze New York and the European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), plus a handful of smaller satellite fairs like the one put on by the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA). Figuring that many of her friends would be in town at once, Lily Atherton Hanbury, 45, who splits her time between London and Oxfordshire, England, and is the creative director and a co-founder of Le Monde Béryl — a shoe brand known for its elegant velvet slippers and Mary Janes — decided she'd come too, and that she'd throw a party. The order of events would be drinks, then dinner, then dancing, and the venue would be the Harlem home of her sister, the artist Hope Atherton, 50, and brother-in-law, the art dealer and gallerist Gavin Brown, 60. Together with their 11-year-old daughter, Feroline, the couple live in a 19th-century brick townhouse that, with its open kitchen-and-dining area, verdant balcony and appealing array of art and design pieces, calls out for a crowd. 'We've got the system down,' said Brown, sitting on a bulbous C-shaped foam and suede couch he purchased at an auction of items from the estate of the R&B singer Luther Vandross. Indeed, Brown and Atherton have had plenty of practice, what with the countless parties for artists they've hosted there, including a teeming celebration for Joan Jonas following her opening at MoMA last March. Atherton Hanbury was expecting a similarly large crowd of over 100 guests, so out came the extra glassware, silverware and serving platters once again. 'I've been really surprised by how calm they are, having so many people invade their house,' said Atherton Hanbury. 'It gets packed, but it's still fun,' Brown said with a shrug. Feroline didn't mind, either, and was excited for an occasion to wear her 'vintage' Le Monde Béryl lace-up block heels, a style dating from soon after the label's 2016 launch and a cherished gift from her aunt. The attendees: The guests, said Atherton Hanbury, consisted of 'a community of old friends and new friends — people traveling from faraway places, but also local New Yorkers.' The stylist Kate Young arrived first, in black mesh Le Monde Béryl heeled mules. She hadn't dressed any clients for the Met Gala this year and had spent the first Monday in May happily relaxing at her house upstate. The stylist and creative consultant Becky Akinyode, however, was impressively still out and about after attending four different Met Gala after-parties. Also in attendance were the designer and producer Alexandre de Betak, the photographer and filmmaker Joshua Woods and the artist Tunji Adeniyi-Jones. They compared schedules with art world figures, including the Frieze London director Eva Langret, the art adviser Sarah Levine and curators, directors and gallerists like Alexandra Cunningham-Cameron (Cooper Hewitt), Legacy Russell (the Kitchen), Gladys and Ollivier Chenel (Galerie Chenel), Monica Fernandez-Taranco (Modern Art), Sarah Rustin (Thaddaeus Ropac) and Emma Scully (Emma Scully Gallery). Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Owners of Scots firm behind £6m NHS fraud bragged of working with cops and councils
BOSS' BOAST Owners of Scots firm behind £6m NHS fraud bragged of working with cops and councils A CROOK who ran a £6million scam company boasted of police, NHS and council contracts, we can reveal. Gavin Brown, 48, grinned in a self-promotion online post hailing his disgraced firm Oricom's apparent meteoric rise to business success. Brown, from Prestwick, Ayrshire, wrote: 'A mute swan has found its voice at the hands of electronic communications company Oricom Ltd. "The Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) is a communication hub used by Police Scotland, NHS and local authorities.' We told last week how Brown and fellow director Adam Sharoudi, 41, bribed two corrupt NHS bosses, Alan Hush, 68, and Gavin Cox, 60, with money, lavish hospitality trips and holidays to get multi-million pound contracts between 2010 and 2017. The Oricom pair even posed together as they picked up gongs at a business awards bash in 2016. They, and Hush and Cox, are behind bars awaiting sentence on June 5 after being found guilty of bribery, corruption, fraud and theft charges at the High Court in Glasgow.
