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Esquire boss stole £20,000 in scam
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent31.03.09
THE former managing editor of men's magazine Esquire could be jailed after he admitted stealing more than £20,000 from the publisher.
Louis White, 40, of south London, was extradited from Australia after he had filled his own account with money belonging to National Magazine Company in an invoicing con. He was held for 106 days in a maximum security prison in Australia awaiting his return to the UK. White, who was also business manager for several of the company's titles, admitted stealing £20,895 over seven months at Southwark crown court.
He set up a special bank account, then filled out bogus invoices purporting to be from a freelance. He received eight separate payments from the company, which also publishes Cosmopolitan and Country Living.
Sophie Shotton, defending, said White had paid back the money with interest and £15,000 legal fees by May 2005. It was not until October of last year that he was arrested then finally extradited on 16 January.
Judge David Higgins ordered probation reports and adjourned sentence until 27 April. White was granted conditional bail.
