Former South Yorkshire Police worker jailed for £275k theft

Jacqueline Fletcher, of Boundary Walk, Brinsworth, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court this morning (Thursday) and admitted four counts of theft.

The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from the Department for Work and Pensions between November 2011 and July 2016, when she stole £63,547 which was supposed to pay for her elderly mother’s care costs.

Fletcher also admitted to stealing £116,527 after taking money from the sale of her mother’s property in 2011.

She also admitted stealing £95,800 from South Yorkshire Police in October 2013, when she worked as a property store team leader at Attercliffe Police station.

She left the force in 2015 and the money is still unaccounted for.

The total amount Fletcher stole was £275,874.

Sentencing Fletcher, Judge Rachael Harrison said her “callous crimes” had shown some “sophistication” and stealing from the police had been a serious breach of trust.

Prosecutor Mr Vincent Blake-Barnard said Fletcher had been appointed to look after her 84-year-old mother’s estate after she was admitted to a care home with dementia.

Mr Blake-Barnard said Fletcher had spent her mother’s £116,527 on credit cards and family members.

Suspicion around Fletcher grew when she told Rotherham Borough Council her mother’s care home payments could no longer be met.

The local authority and her sister, Lynne Bolderson, started asking questions.

To cover her tracks, Fletcher stole £95,800 from the safe at Attercliffe Police Station. 

The court was told the money would have paid for four new police officers for a year.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Bolderson said: “Before all this happened there was no animosity between Jacqueline and me. 

“There was no reason not to trust Jaqueline but now I see things were not right.

“I saw what was happening and reported Jacqueline to the police.”

Mrs Bolderson said after she reported her sister to the police she was “ostracised" by her family who did not believe what she had discovered.

Mrs Bolderson added stealing money meant for their mother’s care was “total disrespect”.

She added: “I feel she has abused mum and taken the money and run.”

Fletcher was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Insp Anna Sedgwick said Fletcher had not shown any remorse.

“She abused the trust placed in her by the force, as well as exploiting her vulnerable elderly mother, for massive sums of money. Her conduct has been truly despicable and I am pleased she has now received a custodial sentence for her crimes," said Det Insp Sedgwick.

“Despite our best efforts throughout the course of our investigation, we have not been able to recover any of the money Fletcher stole. A Proceeds Of Crime Act investigation is ongoing.

“The public of South Yorkshire absolutely expect our employees to behave professionally, honestly and with integrity. Fletcher has behaved disgracefully and I hope the public are reassured by the action taken by our officers to thoroughly investigate this matter and hold this individual to account.”