Quarrington man jailed for defrauding GP practice for a quarter of a million pounds

Stuart Coffey, 44, of Bede Close, Quarrington, near Sleaford, took so much money from the Bracebridge Health Medical Practice over a five year period that the organisation was left in financial difficulties.

Coffey was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting a charge of fraud between 2008 and 2013 and accepted taking £244,000.

Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that Coffey transferred large amounts of cash into his own bank account which he was not entitled to receive.

The fraud went on for five years and only came to light after Coffey resigned his position and moved to take up a new post.

Staff then discovered the rent had not been paid and a large number of invoices were outstanding.

Mr Dee said: “Generally the doctors were aware of financial difficulties but were not aware why.