Jail for banker who stole £573,000 from clients

Timothy Brooks, 42, plundered cash from customers’ accounts at Lloyds TSB Banking Group over a six-year period.

He pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to 17 counts of fraud in which withdrawals totalling £573,736 were diverted to bank accounts set up in the names of his children.

When colleagues discovered that he had transferred money from the accounts of 17 customers since September 2007, they reported the matter to the police last summer.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Economic Crime Unit went on to search Brooks’s home in Prestwich.

Following sentencing, Detective Constable Beth Colbourne said: “Brooks completely abused his position and the trust that was placed upon him by both his employers and his clients to steal more than half a million pounds.

“However, Brooks’ deceit was uncovered by his colleagues and the police were brought in to investigate him and today he has rightly been put behind bars.

“Brooks thought he could get away with his illegal activities, but he was wrong. Let this serve as a warning that any fraudulent activity will always be uncovered in the end, and you will be made to pay for your actions, ruining not only your life and causing distress to all those that you have stolen from, but devastating the lives of your family too.”

Susan Taylor, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Timothy Brooks held a position of trust at Lloyds Bank. He was responsible for managing millions of pounds of investors’ money.

“However, over a six-year period he abused the trust of the bank and the investors by re-directing funds into the bank accounts of his children, which he then used to fund his gambling habits.

“We are pleased that Brooks has now taken responsibility for his dishonest actions. This case is an example to others who think that committing fraud to gain large amounts of money is an easy option; they are not above the law and will be brought before the courts.”