A 27-year-old woman has been sentenced today for fraud against a medical practice in Limavady.
Seainin Cutter from the Greysteel area, who pleaded guilty earlier in the case, was today handed a 20-month custodial sentence, suspended for three years, for 13 counts of fraud by abuse of position, making articles for use in fraud, fraud by false representation, and forgery.
She is also ordered to pay a £15,000 compensation order over three years.
Ms Cutter was employed as a temporary reception manager in the GP practice on Scroggy Road and defrauded the four GP partners who owned the practice out of approximately £63,000 between February and May 2023.
Detective Inspector Lavery says this case demonstrates how positions of trust can be abused.
The loss is said to have not only had an impact on the individual GPs but also the medical service they provide.
Full report:
A woman has been sentenced today, Tuesday 30th September, for fraud against a medical practice in Limavady.
Seainin Cutter (27) from the Greysteel area, was sentenced before Antrim Crown Court for 13 counts of fraud by abuse of position, making articles for use in fraud, fraud by false representation and forgery.
She was handed a 20-month custodial sentence that was suspended for three years, and is required to pay a £15,000 compensation order over three years.
Detective Inspector Lavery said: “Fraud was committed by Cutter at a GP family practice on the Scroggy Road between February 2023 and May 2023. Cutter had entered a guilty plea to all offences during an earlier court hearing.
“She was employed as a temporary reception manager in this busy GP practice, and defrauded the four GP partners who owned the practice out of approximately £63,000.
“The partners relied on Cutter to administer the practice on a day-to-day basis while they focused on tending to the needs of patients.
“However, over the course of a four-month period she employed a variety of fraudulent tactics, such as creating and modifying invoices in order that payments would be made to her own bank accounts.
Detective Inspector Lavery continued: “This case demonstrates how positions of trust can be abused. Cutter stole more than £60,000 from her employer, a GP practice that serves the people of Limavady.
“This loss has not only had an impact on the individual GP’s but additionally the medical service they provide and could have placed vulnerable and unwell persons at risk.
“Her conviction and sentencing we hope should reassure the wider community that fraud will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
