Strip club fraudster conned firms out of thousands

Leeds Crown Court heard Richard Paul Adamson was jailed for 15 months at Bradford Crown Court in 2011 for fraud offences on four separate firms of solicitors for whom he worked.

After his release he began work at a business selling promotional materials and with a salary of £15,500. Chris Smith prosecuting said Adamson got the job and started work in July 2012.

On December 28 one colleague found press reports about his past conviction on the internet causing immediate concern and an audit was begun. It was then discovered Adamson had taken a bank card and started using it for himself.

He had spent more than £5,000 of the £15,000 defrauded at various high street shops and between October 8 and January 7 last year over £3,500 at strip clubs in Leeds.

He was on bail and facing prosecution when he got a job as an accounts administrator with Octopus Residential, where he was found to have stolen £12,000.

Adamson, 35 of Town Street, Armley, Leeds admitted fraud and theft and was jailed for a total of 38 months. He was also ordered to submit financial report on any earnings for the next 10 years.

Judge Sally Cahill QC said the impact on the two firms had been devastating having to resolve the financial mess he had left behind, including one having to take out a personal loan.