'Devious' fraudster mum swindled £55,000 from firm and splashed thousands on B&Q orders

A 'devious' fraudster swindled more than £55,000 and splashed thousands of pounds on B&Q orders. Finance manager Yvette Newton - described as an 'outstanding mother, wife and daughter' - stole from the contracting firm she worked for.

'Highly manipulative' Newton, 54, of Pennine Vale, Shaw, was jailed for 16 months at Minshull Street Crown Court today after admitting fraud by abuse of position. She left bosses 'horrified' and 'sick' after stealing from TMJ Contractors, in Ashton-under-Lyne, over a five-year period.

The court heard Newton began transferring money from the company accounts, disguising a string of payments to her own bank account as going to payees and contractors.

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Between September 8, 2015, and 16 August, 2020, Newton spent a total of £55,309.23 from the company, the court was told.

During her time working for the contracting firm, where she was earning £33,000 a year, she transferred £17,485.70 to her own Santander bank account, as well as a further £11,539.49 to a Nationwide account, also in her name. She also moved £6,213.97 to her unsuspecting daughter's account, £611 into her husband's account and then £1,948.98 on unauthorised wage additions or expenses.

As well as this, money was funnelled to be spent on various unauthorised expenses, including a skip hire, a DVLA payment for her husband's car, over £5,000 in non-business purchases at B&Q, which included buying a lawn mower and dehumidifier and over £5,000 in unexplained cash withdrawals.

Prosecuting, Thomas Worsfield told the court that her actions were first flagged by her employers on August 21, 2020, when managing director Daniel and