Former Finance Assistant Jailed For Breast Cancer Charity Fraud

Friday 4th September, 2026

A former finance employee who diverted almost £92,000 intended for a leading breast cancer charity into his own bank account and spent the money on personal debts, luxury purchases and travel has been sentenced.

Formerly employed by Breast Cancer Now, he appeared at the Royal Courts of Justice on 1st September 2026 where he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

The court heard that exploited his position within the charity's finance team to intercept a refund payment worth £91,966.72 that should have been returned to Breast Cancer Now.

Detective Constable Yusuf Meerza, from the Fraud Operations team at the City of London Police, said: "The generosity of donors enables charities such as Breast Cancer Now to support vital research and provide help to those affected by breast cancer. Choudhury's actions betrayed that trust and placed charitable funds at risk for his own personal gain.

"This case demonstrates that fraud can be committed from within an organisation by individuals entrusted to safeguard its finances.”

Breast Cancer Now funds pioneering breast cancer research through grant funding awarded to institutions including The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

On 11 August 2023, he used his work email account to send altered bank details to The Royal Marsden on Breast Cancer Now headed paper. As a result, the refund payment of £91,966.72 was transferred into his personal Santander account on 16 August 2024.

Within weeks of receiving the funds, he embarked on a spending spree, using the stolen money to pay off personal debts, make cash withdrawals, fund wedding and honeymoon expenses, purchase luxury items that included a £14,000 Alexander Brown ring, and transfer money to family members. Over two days in September 2024 alone, he spent £49,100.47 of the stolen funds.

After suspicious activity was detected, Santander froze and later closed his account. At the point it was frozen, £42,866.25 remained in the account and was subsequently recovered.

Funds have now been recovered and the charity has not experienced any financial loss