A long-running scheme
Alan Doig, 57, a senior financial manager at Gedling Borough Council, used his position to transfer large sums of money into his bank accounts. The crimes lasted from 2003 to 2022.
A Nottingham Crown Court heard that Doig illegally transferred £934,343, the equivalent of around $1.2m, into his accounts. The money, the court heard, was used to pay off his gambling debts, which he had been suffering for many years.
Doig admitted his crime, saying he fully understood the consequences. He appeared at the court hearing in casual clothes, carrying a large bag, bracing himself for a possible prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, saying he transferred £781,009 ($1 million) into his accounts between January 2007 and July 2022.
Guilty plea and manipulation of banking systems
Doig also admitted fraud by transferring funds by deception. Between May 2003 and January 2007, he used Gedling Borough Council's banking systems to transfer an additional £153,333 (around $202,000) into his accounts.
Doig's lawyer, Roger Wilson, confirmed at the court hearing that his client had indeed embezzled significant amounts of money and understood the consequences. However, he also noted that Doig had no previous convictions and his actions were driven by a gambling addiction that had gone untreated for a long time.
Conditional Bail
Despite the guilty plea, Judge Nirmal Shant agreed to grant Doig bail so that he could complete his business before sentencing. However, the judge stressed that this was not a lenient decision and Doig would still receive a significant prison term.
Doig's final sentencing is scheduled for October 2.
Meanwhile, in the US, an Ohio man was sentenced to seven years in prison for illegal gambling and tax evasion, and three years of supervised probation after his release.