Men who claimed false expenses from Ministry of Defence sentenced

Five counter-terrorism military clerks who stole nearly £1 million from the Ministry of Defence have been sentenced.

Hundreds of false claims were made from the Ministry of Defence in the scam, a court heard.

Among them included 38 year old Anthony Sharwood, from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment suspended for two years, and 100 hours of unpaid work.

48 year old Allan O'Neil, a former sergeant from Droitwich in Worcestershire, was sentenced to a 12-month community order by the judge with a condition of 100 hours' unpaid work.

55 year old Peter Wilson, from Kidderminster in Worcestershire, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, and 200 hours of unpaid work.

41 year old Lee Richards, a former lance sergeant from Amesbury in Wiltshire, was convicted by a jury of more than 100 fraudulent claims made between March 2015 and January 2016, involving £434,825.

Former Corporal Aaron Stelmach-Purdie from Oldham was jailed for three years and four months after admitting fraud and money laundering and 28 year old Roger Clerice, from Colchester, Essex, who then worked as a sergeant was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, and 100 hours’ unpaid work.