Latest news with #JamesDavies
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Accountant who was 'like a daughter' to her generous boss jailed after pocketing over £2.4million from her company to fund gambling addiction and cruise obsession
An accountant who was 'like a daughter' to her boss stole more than £2.4million from the family-run business. Jemma Lewis, who was earning £200k, has been jailed after spending the stolen fortune on gambling, cryptocurrency and luxury holidays. Newport Crown Court heard how Ms Lewis' theft caused one woman to miss out on her pension, a director to leave and another to lose out on his salary. She had worked for the company for over 10 years, starting as a receptionist and eventually qualifying as an accountant. In a victim statment, her boss, James Davies, said Ms Lewis felt like familyand that her crimes has 'affected the lives of countless people'. Ms Lewis committed fraud against five different companies which were inside the same family of companies owned by James Davies. These included Daisy Vale Limited, Charnwood Accounts, Edward Davies Construction and Fastnet Properties Ltd. The financial problems began to arise when the company moved to an online banking system, which showed a substantial and unexplained downturn in profits. In 2023, when suspicions were raised over an increase in third party payments, Ms Lewis officially resigned and a new accountant took over. When she contacted him about her severance payment he noticed a link between her account details and a number of other payments on the account. Alex Orndale, prosecuting said: 'Instead of paying third party people she had been paying herself and disguising them as proper payments.' Between 2018 and 2023 the total payments to her account exceeded £3.6m. Once her salary and other legitimate payments were removed the total was still over £2.4m. Mr Orndal explained that £1.4m of this was sent to known gambling companies but the figure is likely to be higher as it's difficult to identify all gambling companies. She also spent £67,000 on crypto companies and £9,000 on FairFX, a bank where you can pay with different currencies. There was also £3,600 spent on £1,000 on P&O cruises and £1,000 on Jet2Holidays Despite already fraudulently stealing millions from the businesses, Lewis also asked her Mr Davies to lend her £163,000 to help her buy a house but the money was eventually repaid by her mother and brother. Defendant Neil Corre said her gambling addiction, which she has been free of for a year, is to blame. He said: 'She has lost her job, her home and she may lose her liberty, but her moral compass has been restored.' Former director Mark Cotter said in a victim impact statement that the stress on him had led to his GP making him take four to six weeks off work. He added: 'I felt forced to leave the company that I had spent a lot of my life trying to build. 'I'm in disbelief that all of this happened because of Jemma Lewis.' Ms Lewis pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position. Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Lewis to five years in prison, with each charge to run concurrently. He said during sentencing: 'You have been a gambler for years, since you were 18 and long before you were employed by James Davies. Your upbringing was privileged but also blighted by trauma and sadness.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Newport: Accountant stole £2.4m to fund gambling addiction
An accountant stole more than £2.4m from companies she worked for in order to fund her gambling Lewis, 40, who was on a £200,000 salary, stole money from five businesses within the same family of companies, Newport Crown Court heard. Her actions caused considerable stress to other members of staff, causing one director to leave, another to lose out on his salary, and one woman unable to access her pension. Lewis, of Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced to five years in prison, with each charge to run concurrently. Her actions also meant that the companies, owned by James Davies, did not contribute enough Davies said Lewis was like a daughter to him, and felt like five companies she committed fraud against included Daisy Vale Limited, Charnwood Accounts, Edward Davies Construction and Fastnet Properties Orndal, prosecuting, told the court that Lewis began working for Mr Davies in 2007, first holding a role as a 2017 she was the accountant for the group of companies after she had her accountancy training funded by the company. However, when the company moved over to an online banking system financial problems began to arise. For the first time, the company began to see a substantial and unexplained downturn in suspicions were raised over an increase in third party payments, Lewis officially resigned in 2023 and a new accountant took Lewis contacted Mr Davies about her severance payment he noticed a link between her account details and a number of other payments on the account. 'Crypto companies' Mr Orndal said: "Instead of paying third party people she had been paying herself and disguising them as proper payments."Between 2018 and 2023, the total payments to her account exceeded £3.6m, with the total being more than £2.4m after her salary and other legitimate payments had been deducted. Mr Orndal said that £1.4m of this was sent to known gambling companies but this figure is likely to be higher as it is difficult to identify all gambling also spent £67,000 on crypto companies and £9,000 on FairFX, a bank which accepts payments in different already fraudulently stealing millions from the businesses, Lewis also asked Mr Davies to loan her £163,000 to help her buy a house, but the money was eventually repaid by her mother and a victim impact statement, Mr Davies said Lewis's crimes had "affected the lives of countless people" and she had also taken money from the Davies said one member of staff had been unable to withdraw her pension, despite working at the company for many years, because Lewis did not fund it a victim impact statement, former director Mark Cotter said that the stress on him had led to his GP making him take four to six weeks off work. "I felt forced to leave the company that I had spent a lot of my life trying to build," he added."I'm in disbelief that all of this happened because of Jemma Lewis."Neil Corre, for the defendant, said she was in this position due to her gambling said she did not gamble to win but to continue gambling, adding she had now been free of the addiction for more than a Corre said she hoped to use her experience to help others. "She has lost her job, her home and she may lose her liberty, but her moral compass has been restored," he Lewis, Judge Daniel Williams said: "You have been a gambler for years, since you were 18 and long before you were employed by James Davies. "Your upbringing was privileged but also blighted by trauma and sadness."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Berry succeeds Kear as Wales head coach
Paul Berry has been appointed as the new Wales head coach, succeeding John Kear as the boss of the senior men's team after the 70-year-old stepped down early in July after more than a decade at the 41-year-old Berry first joined the Wales set-up in 2019 as assistant to Lee Crooks as part of the Under-16 programme and in 2021 was promoted to head coach of the Wales U17 side in the one year that it ran post-Covid, before taking over the was promoted to head of youth in 2023 and is the most successful youth coach in Wales Rugby League history, leading the U16 side to home and away wins over England in 2022, followed by three successive U16 Four Nations titles - all with a 100% winning record."I'm excited for the challenge, I'm also really grateful for chairman James Davies, CEO Richard Hibbard, and the board for showing trust in me to lead the team moving forward," said Berry. "Being involved over the last six years, I've seen first-hand the talent already within the pathway and I'm hoping these young players will come through over the next few years to add to the experienced group that we already have. "That will provide a really balanced squad as we move forward to being World Cup-ready by 2030."The long-term goal is obviously to qualify for the 2030 World Cup, but shorter term I'm looking forward to seeing the team playing regular fixtures and giving some of the younger players an opportunity to pull on our famous red jersey."There's plenty of progress happening on and off the field at the moment, and I think we're entering a really exciting period for rugby league in Wales. I'm really pleased to be able to continue to play a part of it moving forward." Berry has spent more than a decade working for Warrington Wolves in their junior development and scholarship programmes and will combine that role with his Wales will be assisted by former Wales full-back Damian Gibson and Liam Bostock, who was Berry's assistant in the Wales U16 side for a number of will be Gibson's second spell as Wales assistant coach having been involved during Iestyn Harris' reign."I'm delighted to be able to have Liam and Damian supporting me as assistant coaches," Berry added."I think it's really important to have coaches involved who understand the history, heritage and culture of Wales Rugby League."Both are very experienced coaches in their own right and will bring a wealth of knowledge into the coaching group."
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report
Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report Inspectors found the Tai Education Centre needs none of the usual recommendations for areas to improve Pupils at The Tai Education Centre experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (Image: James Davies ) A unit for children expelled from school in Rhondda Cynon Taf has been judged near perfect in a glowing report from inspectors. Estyn gave a rare accolade to the Tai Educational Centre judging that it needs none of the usual recommendations for improvement. Such a report is rare for a mainstream school let alone for a school teaching pupils with the most challenging behaviour. The pupil referral unit in Penygraig takes children from RCT and neighbouring areas, some of whom have been kicked out of school. Its 55 pupils are aged five to 11 and experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Many pupils come to the pupil referral unit after struggling in mainstream education, but then thrive, inspectors said. Nearly all pupils during their time at the PRU make strong and in a few cases exceptionally strong progress in their learning, behaviour, emotional development and attendance. While school absence and poor behaviour have grown across Wales since the pandemic both are being tackled well at Tai. Behaviour at the centre is "exemplary" and attendance runs at 90%, far above many schools and year groups. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Article continues below Head Teacher of the Tai Education Centre Marisa Chadney (Image: James Davies ) All pupils attending the cente have additional learning needs, more than one in five are looked after by the local authority and 53% are entitled to free school meals, far higher than the national average. Despite those challenges nearly all pupils during their time at the PRU make strong and in a few cases exceptionally strong progress in their learning, behaviour, emotional development and attendance, Estyn said. "Through inclusive, engaging, and individually tailored learning experiences, nearly all pupils develop a renewed love of learning," Estyn's report says, "this sense of achievement builds confidence and encourages positive attitudes toward themselves as successful learners." Nearly all pupils at the centre significantly improve their social skills and make "strong progress" in literacy, numeracy, behaviour, and communication. Inspectors who visited found the children are "enthusiastic in class, and display improved self-worth and resilience". Staff follow and implement a clear behaviour policy and anticipate challenges well. This works as "pupils act with kindness and respect" and incidents of challenging behaviour decrease, and exclusions are avoided. Teachers track pupils' progress closely setting "ambitious but realistic targets" based on their individual needs. "Learning is joyful, and pupils participate with enthusiasm," the report adds, Staff are extremely skilled in developing pupils' love of learning. It is especially effective as most of the pupils have previously struggled to engage in learning." The "skilful support of staff" means children learn to regulate their emotions which helps their progess. The children get personalised support through their Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and regular reviews with their parents and carers. Leadership at the centre is "inspirational", there is a strong ethos of "respect, community, and high expectations". Pupils feel safe,confident and well-prepared, parents and carers feel well supported and finances are "thoughtfully allocated". Behaviour has become such a major problem at schools across Wales that the Welsh Government has launched a group to look at the issue and staff have taken industrial action in some areas. At Tai the "clear and robust behaviour management policy" means potential issues are anticipated and avoided, the report says. "The PRU has a highly effective approach to supporting pupil behaviour, which reflects the ethos of the whole provision. There is a clear and robust behaviour management policy and a range of supportive strategies used consistently by all staff. This promotes a calm and nurturing atmosphere that aids pupil learning well. " Inspectors found that staff "skilfully anticipate challenges and explicitly model expectations" while "explicit teaching of emotional intelligence" helps pupils modify behaviour. "Nearly all pupils improve their behaviour, self-worth and resilience as a direct consequence of the pastoral support and specialist interventions that are used extremely well across the PRU. "Behaviour around the PRU is exemplary, including at break times. Incidents of challenging behaviour are decreasing, and there has been a notable absence of fixed-term exclusions for a several years." Although many of Tai's pupils don't transition back into full-time mainstream education and require further specialist provision the centre's leaders have an expert understanding of the wide range of potential destinations for year six leavers. Article continues below A well-established programme of transition planning is in place, including regular meetings with parents and carers, and extensive work with external partners, Estyn found.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Davie to acquire Gulf Copper's Texas shipyards, expand US icebreaker fleet
Shipbuilder Davie has announced plans to acquire Gulf Copper & Manufacturing's shipbuilding assets located in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. The planned acquisition is pending financial, legal, and regulatory approvals, including land lease negotiations with the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees. The acquisition, expected to be finalised by summer 2025, underscores Davie's commitment made in July 2024 to establish a permanent presence in the US. The proposed acquisition aligns with national priorities, including the U.S. Maritime Action Plan and the Ships for America Act. Furthermore, it supports the US Coast Guard's Arctic Security Cutter programme, which seeks to revitalise shipbuilding in the US and deliver Arctic-ready icebreakers. Davie president and CEO James Davies said: 'We share a vision with Gulf Copper to make Texas a world-class hub for American icebreaker and complex ship production. Texas is ready to lead a new Golden Age of American shipbuilding—backed by our commitment to delivering ships on time, on budget, and in service of national security priorities.' With operations in Québec and Helsinki, Davie's expansion into the US would enhance its role in the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) and counter heavily subsidised foreign programmes. The company's entry into the US market is also timely, as the country currently operates only three Arctic-ready icebreakers, compared to nearly 50 by rival nations. Davie's commercially viable icebreaker designs promise faster delivery and cost savings for the US government, addressing a critical national security concern. Upon completion of the acquisition and securing of contracts, Davie plans a $1bn investment to upgrade the Galveston and Port Arthur facilities, potentially creating around 4,000 American jobs. This includes 2,000 direct jobs at Gulf Copper and another 2,000 in the supply chain. Davie is also collaborating with local stakeholders and organisations in Texas to expedite the transaction and has also garnered support from Washington, D.C. Gulf Copper CEO Steve Hale said: 'A successful deal will open a new chapter for Gulf Copper. For the first time in decades, complex shipbuilding could return to Galveston and Port Arthur—this time backed by one of the world's fastest-growing specialised shipbuilders. 'Davie brings a bold vision: to make Texas the cornerstone of their US expansion. That means opportunity for our employees, our partners, and our communities.' "Davie to acquire Gulf Copper's Texas shipyards, expand US icebreaker fleet" was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
