Fraudster sentenced after stealing almost £80,000 from employer

A man who stole almost £80,000 from his employer has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

David Kissack was also ordered to pay £19,000 compensation during the hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday 7 March.

The 45-year-old of Bannister Way, Winstanley, had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation.

The court heard how Kissack was employed as a business director at recruitment agency near Chester between August 2016 and December 2022, earning more than £70,000 a year, plus additional quarterly bonuses.

His offending came to light in October 2022 when the recruitment company received an email from a customer which named an agency worker who they did not recognise.

Following an internal investigation the company discovered that Kissack had been invoicing the company directly and had directed the payments into his personal account.

In total the company discovered that Kissack had fraudulently received payments totalling £78,585 into his personal bank account.

The payments related to 11 separate agency workers and occurred between September 2020 and October 2022.

The matter was reported to Cheshire Police and following his arrest Kissack answered no comment to all the questions put to him by officers. Despite his silence, he later pleaded guilty to  five counts of fraud by false representation.

Following his sentencing, PC Clarke, who led the investigation, said:

“Kissack was a trusted employee in a high paying job, yet he knowingly took advantage of his employer to commit audacious acts of fraud whilst in a position of trust.

“As the business director, he should have been managing and supporting the company, not exploiting it for his own financial gain.

“His offending has had a detrimental effect on the reputation of his employer and resulted in a significant financial loss for the company, and as a result, Kissack is now facing the consequences of his actions."

To report suspected fraud offences, call Cheshire Police on 101, give the details via https://cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.