Branch secretary and treasurer jailed for defrauding NHS

Tuesday 19th April, 2022

A secretary who stole £80,000 from a union and the NHS has been jailed following a trial at Durham Crown Court.

Former Durham County councillor, who worked for NHS commissioning as a local branch secretary and treasurer for Unison, forged signatures of colleagues on cheques to herself to make them look plausible.

The court heard how she defrauded both organisations over a four-year period whilst in positions of trust.

She went on to splash the money on a car, restaurant bills, hotel stays, beauty treatments and even used it to pay for her honeymoon.

Fraud Investigator, Detective Constable Ali Blackett, of Durham Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit said: “Fraud is a despicable crime that can have far-reaching consequences for victims especially for vital organisation such as the NHS.

“Tucker not only abused her position of trust in both organisations but went to great lengths to hide her deceit so it is satisfying to see justice served.”