A former senior UK National Health Service (NHS) manager has been sentenced for syphoning £123,000 ($166,000) in funds for personal use, including gambling.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the man, Alec Gandy, pleaded guilty to abuse of position at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) financial investigation found that Gandy used £92,000 ($124,000) of the fraudulently obtained money on gambling activities.
Gandy fabricates accounts to fund personal gambling
The man, whilst in post at Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust, took liberties, according to a CPS filing, to create two fictitious temporary worker accounts.
A man who defrauded more than £123,000 from the Dudley Integrated Health and Care Trust, has today been jailed for two and a half years.
Alec Gandy used over £92,000 to finance his gambling habits.
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— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) January 19, 2026
With these accounts, he concocted a scheme, using the names of acquaintances, to submit invoices for public, taxpayer funds, creating a closed loop of fraud.
Between August 2022 and December 2023, the court heard that Gandy “created two fictitious temporary workers using the details of his friend, Matthew Lane and his ex-wife, Kaylee Wright, whose details were logged as a ‘physician’s assistant’ and a ‘paramedic.”
Accomplices and Gandy use taxpayer funds for fraud
The trio of fraudsters were flagged to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, which found the abuse of power, in the heart of a difficult time for the health sector, could have funded much needed roles.
“During Gandy’s interview under caution,” said NHSCFA, “he made a full and frank confession to raising the ghost contractors and producing the invoices. He also admitted to having a gambling problem.”
The £123,000 could have provided four Nursing Associates for a year, two Community Paramedics for a year or two Clinical Pharmacists for a year.
Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, said, “Gandy abused his position of responsibility as a public servant, while Lane and Wright knowingly participated in the scheme to facilitate this fraud.”
Gandy has been given a custodial sentence of two and a half years in jail, for abuse of power and a public position under the Fraud Act 2006.
Matthew Lane was issued a 12-month suspended sentence for 18 months and was issued
200 hours of unpaid work, after pleading guilty to money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Kaylee Wright received an 18-month community order and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement after also pleading guilty to money laundering offences under the same act.
Head of Operations at NHS Counter Fraud Authority, Ben Harrison, commented, “Our investigation, with the support of West Mercia Police and the subsequent prosecution by colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service, revealed a deliberate abuse of position, with Gandy exploiting his senior role to manipulate NHS payment systems for personal gain.”
Featured image: NHSCFA via West Mercia Police
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