Harrow Crown Court (Photo by Des Blenkinsopp)
Barnet Council has successfully prosecuted a serial fraudster after officers discovered the agency worker had not revealed she was simultaneously working full-time at the Greater London Authority.
Angelica Neoaurora had previously been convicted of the same crime when working as a Civil Servant but did not disclose the conviction and used a different name when applying to Barnet. Nor did she provide the details of her previous employment and used a family member as a reference.
Employed via an agency as a Strategy Officer at Barnet, managers and colleagues quickly became suspicious when her performance was not at the level expected. They informed Barnet’s anti-fraud team who investigated the concerns, resulting in the case being put forward for prosecution.
Neoaurora admitted six counts of fraud by false representation between November 2022 and July 2023 at Harrow Crown Court on 3 September.
She was handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and must undertake 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 12 months mental health treatment order. She must also pay a total of £200 in costs over the next three months.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Barnet Council Leader, said:
“Thanks to our internal processes we were able to uncover this fraudster and swiftly terminate her employment.
“Defrauding the council is defrauding the taxpayer and we have a duty to protect the public purse. We’ve been part of a pilot via the London Fraud Hub, which is matching payroll data across council systems to find those working more than one job at a time. By working closely with other boroughs and services to share data we will bring these criminals to justice.
“We are committed to preventing, detecting, and investigating all forms of fraud, corruption, and dishonesty. We have zero tolerance for such actions and will always pursue the toughest penalties available.”
Barnet has been part of a pilot via the London Fraud Hub which is matching payroll data across council systems to find those working more than one job at a time.
Residents are encouraged to report any suspected fraudulent activities to the council's Corporate Anti-Fraud Team: barnet.gov.uk/your-council/finance-funding-and-pensions/fraud-investigation