Marketing manager jailed after defrauding employer of more than £90,000
Lisa Rockett, 45, was working as a sales and marketing manager for a motorsport company
A woman, who defrauded the Cambridgeshire company she worked for out of more than £90,000, has been jailed.
Lisa Rockett, 45, began working as a sales and marketing manager for a motorsport company, which manufactures and supplies car racing parts on an international scale, in September 2019.
Her role included meeting customers, reaching sales targets, raising invoices, developing and maintaining customer relations and getting involved with new product development.
In early 2022, the company director noticed some overdue invoices and asked Rockett to assist. He noted she was insistent that he didn’t contact the customers directly and said she would deal with it.
Rockett later sent a message to a colleague at the company stating the outstanding invoices were owed by her and not customers and that she had sent car parts and been paid directly.
An internal investigation by the company director and owner found that Rockett had been selling parts to national and international customers at a reduced price, forging invoices and receiving payment into her personal accounts rather than the company accounts.
The company director informed police in February 2022 and an investigation was launched. During the process, officers discovered some of the companies Rockett was selling to didn’t receive the goods offered, despite paying for them.
Rockett, of Eagle Road, Warminster, Wiltshire, initially offered no comment during police interview, but later pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, three counts of fraud by false representation and acquiring criminal property.
She was sentenced to three years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday (25 November).
Detective Sergeant Kenny Reeves, who investigated, said: “Rockett has defrauded her employer and its several customers out of substantial sums of money and caused untold hassle for them.
“Fraud might seem like a victimless crime when carried out against a company, but we mustn’t forget there are hard-working people behind these businesses who have built them up from scratch, as well as many more employees who rely on them to earn a living.
“I am glad justice has been done today and Rockett will be spending time behind bars for her crimes.”