Financial IT specialist jailed for million pound council fraud

Mark Conway,52, from Brechin in Angus, had admitted the fraud at the High Court in Edinburgh on 2 August.

Between August 2009 and May 2016 Conway, an IT expert with high level access to the Council’s electronic financial systems, had created numerous false invoices which he had paid into his own accounts to cover gambling debts.

The invoices would range from nearly £6000 to more than £27000 and spanning the seven year period of the fraud.

The overall amount obtained totalled £1,065,085.32.

Around £7000 has been returned to the council.

Speaking following the sentence, Nicky Patrick, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: “Mark Conway was convicted of a serious offence – a fraud over a seven year period.

“It is a crime made all the more serious due to the trust placed in him by his employers and the transfer of a large amount of city council funds into his own accounts.

“We welcome the sentence, which reflects the seriousness of the offences. When you are in a position of public trust, you will be held accountable.”