A former director has been jailed for the theft of more than £200,000 from his employer, Manston company Summit Aviation and sister company Gloucester Jet Test Centre Ltd.
James Boulton, from Broadstairs, pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by abuse of position and forgery when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court last year and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (October 21)
The charges relate to money stolen between 2011 and 2023, Boulton had been in employment at Summit Aviation since 1990.
Boulton used a combination of his seniority and autonomy within the business, and a large number of forged documents, both to justify the payments and cover his tracks. He misappropriated monies by transferring money to his personal accounts as well as using company credit cards and bank accounts as though they were his own.
He used the company’s money to fund family holidays to France and Athens, bought iPads, iPhones, golfing equipment, watches, camping equipment and carried out 1,000 transactions to claim refunds.
He bought items which he charged to the Summit Aviation, which at that time was run by business owner Ken Wills.
In 2018 Julie Wing took ownership of the company and became sole shareholder.
In June 2023 discrepancies were discovered with Amazon invoices that did not match the purchases made. Further investigation found a supplier payment going to Boulton’s personal account.
That led to an internal investigation into historic payments. The company says that on December 8 Boulton wiped his work laptop and both home laptops, which led to a full investigation including credit card data going back to 2012.
A folder was found on his work desktop called ‘Invoices Dodge’ where he kept templates and assembled invoices.
Despite being on a salary of between £79,000 to £160,000 a year during the period, Mr Boulton stole tens of thousands of pounds during the 12 year period. He claims the amount was ‘just’ £190,000. The prosecution say the sum was more than £230,000.
The companies instructed Edmonds Marshall McMahon to investigate and take out a private prosecution.
At Maidstone Crown Court Boulton was sentenced to a 32 month prison sentence.
‘Saddened’
Following the sentencing Julie Wing said: “I am very saddened by yesterday’s events. This situation brings me no pleasure.
“The entire episode has caused great pain not only to me, but also to many members of staff who have worked with and known James Boulton for many years. He was regarded as not just a trusted and loyal member of Summit Aviation for over 30 years, but he was the Chair of school governors for a local school and his honesty was never questioned.
“We gave Mr. Boulton several opportunities to put things right, but he failed to do so and continued to deny any wrongdoing. We were therefore left with no choice. This was not a decision we took lightly, but it was the right and necessary course of action.”
A person speaking on behalf of Mr Boulton denied that he refused to make amends, saying he repaid a large sum of money but disputed some of the amount claimed, apologised, left the business and pleaded guilty in court.
‘Systematic’
The prosecution was headed by Ashley Fairbrother of Edmonds Marshall McMahon private prosecution specialists.
Mr Fairbrother said: “Mr Boulton carried out a sustained and calculated fraud over more than a decade, abusing the senior position of trust he held within the company. He controlled the accounting systems and abused that access to defraud his employer, and thereby his colleagues and friends, of over £230,000, through hundreds of fabricated invoices, refunds and personal purchases disguised as legitimate company expenditure.
“This was not an isolated mistake but a systematic course of dishonesty spanning 12 years. Even when challenged, he was hostile and unrepentant, and made deliberate efforts to destroy evidence. Despite the ability to do so, he has not yet repaid the full amount of the money he stole.
“The message must go out to those who believe long-standing and trusted businesses are easy targets – they are not. These offences are serious and the consequences are serious. The time, effort and loyalty invested in building this company over many years was betrayed, and this sentence reflects the gravity of that breach of trust.”
Bring back flogging. Less than 3 years is no punishment at all
Sounds like someone who stole £400,000 from the parents bank account. leaving another person to clear nursing home fee’s. ended up with a slap wrist.
No justice in this world.
Eh?
I could easily spend 32 months inside for 200 grand. Not much of a deterrent is it?
I wouldn’t. Freedom is better than money.
He repaid a lot back and they’re still chasing the rest…
Tommy – I think you’ll find he paid a little back, not a lot.
So should the company just write off the rest??!..
The bigger question here is what did he do with all the stuff he bought? James had more stock of laptops, iPads and iPhones than an Apple shop!!! No wonder a new model is hard to obtain… most of them are (allegedly) in his garage? 😂
There are some gree dikunz about and no mistake!
James ” Stickey Fingers” Boulton
To quote the late comedian Sean Lock…
“We all like to put a bit of money away for a rainy day, don’t we?
But I think James was more prepared than Noah!!!.”
Where did all the items go?
Surely on the quoted £160k a year he could make ends meet?
I’d love to read his personal eBay account reviews! Must have more reviews than Curry’s!…
The most interesting aspect of this case was that the Police had said it wasn’t a viable case, and had dropped it, and he was only convicted because his ex-employers were prepared to stump up for a private prosecution which must have cost them tens, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds. It makes me wonder how many other fraudsters get away with it because the Plod can’t be bothered.