A legal secretary working based in Caerphilly has recently been arrested for stealing from her firm's vulnerable clients. The woman was identified as 48-year-old Dianne Spragg and is a mother of two. She was reported to have stolen almost £80,000 from the "mentally incapacitated" clients of Cardiff law firm Geldards, in which she works as a legal secretary. The Cardiff Crown Court detailed how the woman would write cheques to herself in order to fund her online shopping sprees. Despite this, she earned a salary of £20,200 from her position at the company.
The court detailed how the woman would target the accounts of her victims and used their weakeness for her own benefit. The company she works for acts in behalf of the Court of Protection and helps run the financial affairs of individuals incapable of doing so on their own. BBC reports that among her victims include a 76-year-old man with a mental disorder who lost £11,102 to Spragg. Another victim was a scaffolder who lost £37,945. He had previously encountered a serious head injury at work. The court also learned that Spragg collected on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support, a cancer charity group.
Spragg was defended by her barrister, Adam Sharp. According to Sharp, his client had admitted to the fraud and possession of criminal property charges filed against her. She is said to feel an "overwhelming sense of shame" for what she has done. Spragg admitted to spending the money on clothes, shoes, and furniture. The judge who sentenced her said that what she did was a "gross breach of trust." Judge Thomas Crowther went on to say that the money she stole was used to fund her shopping sprees and not even used to feed children who were starving.
Spragg has been sentenced to spend two and a half years in jail. She had been working as a legal secretary for over 20 years.
The victims of Spragg have all been reimbursed by Geldards.
