Dudley paramedic and his manager spared jail after defrauding NHS of £60k
The pair worked on submitting false timesheets
A former locum paramedic and his manager have received suspended sentences after defrauding the NHS out of more than £60,000.
43-year-old Karl Lavender, of Stretton, Staffordshire, and 39-year-old Adam Kilgallon, of Brook Road, Twickenham, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.
Lavender worked as a locum paramedic managed by Kilgallon at a private clinical staffing agency from 2017 to 2024.
Kilgallon was working as a recruitment consultant responsible for managing NHS clients and candidates in the Midlands.
In September 2022, Lavender began working at Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust.
Under Kilgallon's direction, he submitted altered, inflated, and false timesheets between September 2022 and June 2024.
The fraudulent activities defrauded the NHS out of £63,835.
Despite not receiving direct payments from Lavender, Kilgallon earned commission (an estimated £1,223.81) by keeping Lavender employed through fraudulent timesheets.
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority is working to recover the remaining funds using the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Lavender was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; ordered to undertake a 12-month mental health treatment programme; and 62 days of rehabilitation across two programmes.
Kilgallon was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; ordered to undertake a three-month alcohol treatment programme; 10 days of rehabilitation; and 175 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.