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Bank manager walks free after stealing almost £1million
29 Jan 2010A former junior bank manager walked free from court today after being cleared of stealing nearly £1 million from a high street bank.
Ania Wadsworth, 28, admitted taking the money but sobbed that she had been forced to do it by her crack addict boyfriend.
Wadsworth, of Archway, north London, was found not guilty of stealing £921,716.95 from Lloyds TSB between 2002 and 2007.
Keith "Junior" Preddie, 30, of Romford, Essex, was found guilty of laundering £145,370.
Preddie, who had a £500-a-day drug habit at times, said he also spent money on BMW cars, holidays and a failed music business.
The Old Bailey was told that Wadsworth would walk out of the branch at Golders Green, north London, with bundles of £25,000, stolen while she was loading cash machines.
But none of the missing money was traced to her and she had been living modestly.
Her bank accounts were frequently in the red and she had taken out a couple of loans from the bank.
An expert on domestic abuse said Wadsworth showed signs of battered woman syndrome and "learned helplessness".
She had been with Preddie, described as being from the wrong side of the tracks, since she was 16.
But he left her in 2004 when he fell in love with another woman.
Wadsworth told the court that at the end of the relationship she was forced to steal larger amounts to "pay him off".
She told the court that she lived in fear of violence from Preddie and believed he would kill
her or her family if she did not bring cash home.
Christopher Sallon QC, defending, said Preddie had used her "like a cash cow".
Wadsworth said: "If I came home without it, I would get hurt. I would die. He would beat me up and if I didn't bring it, that would be an end of it.
"He told people I worked in the bank. He would say 'My baby is a supervisor in a bank'."
Wadsworth said she "felt a sense of relief" when she was arrested coming off a plane from Trinidad at Gatwick Airport in March 2007.
She was found out during a nationwide audit while she was on holiday and unable to cover-up.
Her new husband Damon Hoford and her parents had no idea about her double life.
Mortgage adviser Mr Hoford told police: "After I found out about the thefts by Ania, I was devastated but loved her and wanted to stand by her."
But she began to act out of character, coming home late and tipsy, after her arrest and they separated and later divorced.
Mr Hoford told the court they had always "gone 50-50" with the bills and holidays.
He said Wadsworth had few material possessions when she moved into his flat.
Mr Hoford, who worked at the same branch, said they started going out together when the relationship with Preddie ended.
"She said if he came home drunk or if he used any drugs, he would just be rough with her," Mr Hoford said.
Mr Hoford married the "bubbly, extrovert and easy to get on with" junior manager in November 2004.
Detective Sergeant Suzanne Ferris of City of London Police said outside court: "We found no evidence in her finances to show she had any gain."
Reader views (17)
As another retired bank manager of the 'old school' I can confirm that the title of bank manager these days is a misnomer. Old style Bank Manager was an upstanding member and a pillar of the community who commanded respect. These days so called bank managers are in their twenties, know very little about business or the wider world and command very little respect- no wonder the banks are in a state in which they are in. The banks themselves are shortsighted and have no care about customer service- its all about sales and dare I say it Mis selling is rife both in retial and business banking.
- Eb, London, 17/05/2010 21:52
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The judgement indirectly encourage bank managers to steal money with 'gullible partners' by pre-planned drama.
- Hameed, home county, 31/01/2010 17:50
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To cap it all she pleaded guilty!!! work that out?
- Steve, England, 31/01/2010 16:50
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As a retired Bank Manager of the 'old school', I find it incredible that this young woman's thefts should have remained undiscovered for so long.
In my day,no one however senior could enter the strongroom unless accompanied by another member of staff, thus the cash safe within the strongroon remained secure. In any event, it had two locks and therefore needed two designated keyholders to open it before any cash could be removed.
Such slackness is unpardonable.
John Verrall, Eastbourne
What happened to Bank Inspectors
- John Verrall, Eastbourne., 30/01/2010 17:46
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This is the area of the "broken Britain" that Cameron was talking about recently. There is no such thing as justice any more.
T H
- Thomas Hayes, Bradford UK, 30/01/2010 13:40
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Agree Frank. Just like Pete Doherty.
- Alex Simmonds, Glastonbury, UK, 30/01/2010 10:31
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Now i am fully convinced that the UK is governed, policed and judicially regulated by raving lunatics! What sentence did her puppet master receive? The article makes no mention of that.
- David Boyle, Cairns, Australia, 30/01/2010 07:28
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I told them "The devil made me do it" and they just laughed
- Ereed, Bournemouth,UK, 30/01/2010 01:29
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Freed after stealing a million.
Useless Lawyers. Useless Bankers. Useless sentence.
- Mr S.Port, London, 29/01/2010 22:21
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Ah well...fair enough, really.
- Geek Freak, Paris, Texas, 29/01/2010 20:44
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Blame it on the man and get out of jail, free as air.
If a man had stolen £1 million and claimed he was pressured into doing it, he would be laughed at all the way to a long stretch in prison.
- Kate, London, 29/01/2010 19:15
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How can I get hold of a job application form?
- Gwilym Rhys-Jones, marbella spain, 29/01/2010 18:30
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Why didn't Ms Wadsworth go to the police to report what was going on and ask for protection? The fact is that she stole from the bank. Whatever her reasons for doing so, she must be convicted and held acountable for her actions. The law is wrong and the CPS/bank should appeal.
- D. Miner, London, UK, 29/01/2010 17:11
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He was found guilty of laundering £145,370 yet she was found not guilty of stealing the money that he laundered, so who stole it? The law (in teh UK at least) really is an ass.
- Casper Slides, London, 29/01/2010 15:34
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I do not understand this - did she take the money or not?? If yes she is guilty and if not then she is innocent. If there are extenuating circumstances then that should be reflected in the sentance. The message that this appears to say that if you have an abusive partner then theft is o.k.
- Very Angry At Mp'S Expenses, Home Counties, 29/01/2010 15:31
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Corruption in the banks yet again!
- Student, London, 29/01/2010 15:14
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What a great act she must have put on. Another pathetic sentence.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 29/01/2010 14:56
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