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Fraudulent bank worker faces years in jail
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| Ruth Akinyemi (c) |
A TEENAGE bank worker who helped fraudsters fleece her wealthy customers out of nearly £500,000 in an 'alarmingly simple' sting has been warned she faces years in jail.
University student Ruth Akinyemi, of Park Road, Enfield, leaked vital details including dates of birth and account passwords from the Barclays bank computer system.
Armed with the insider's information the thieves posed as real customers and emptied the best accounts of 'vast sums of money' before splashing out on expensive jewellery and holidays.
They targeted seven victims, including doctors, during the nine month scam between July 2004 and April 2005.
One victim lost almost £400,000 in just four days.
Akinyemi, now 22, was 19 when she first tapped in to customer accounts at the Enfield branch.
She was working part-time as a cashier just two days a week, while completing an economics degree at the University of Hertfordshire.
Despite her vital involvement in the fraud and the £500,000 windfall, she claimed she was paid just £8,000.
The first jury failed to reach a verdict, but at last week's retrial Akinyemi was convicted of conspiracy to steal by a jury at the Old Bailey after five hours' deliberation.
Ordering pre-sentence reports to be prepared, Judge Anthony Morris QC said: "A substantial custodial sentence is likely.
"The most likely outcome is an immediate term of imprisonment."
The court was told how after one victim, Essex doctor Susan Raymond, lost £397,000, an anonymous caller tipped off bank bosses that Akinyemi was the insider.
She was suspended, but later reinstated following an internal investigation and moved to the St Albans City branch, where she continued to plunder accounts.
Prosecutor Miles Bennett said: "The Crown say these people managed to move from a number of accounts, seven account holders in all, something in the region of half a million pounds.
"It is breathtakingly simple providing you have someone on the inside."
Allen Strong, 30, of Neville Road, Croydon, a gang member who allowed cash to be paid into his account was convicted at that trial.
Associate Thomas Sessazi splashed out £3,500 with travel agents Lunn Poly after banking more than £11,800 and admitted acquiring and converting criminal property.
All three will be sentenced in the week of April 28.
Akinyemi was granted unconditional bail.
10:58am Tuesday 8th April 2008
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