Finance Manager Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding GP Surgery of Nearly Half a Million Pounds
A former finance manager has been jailed for more than three years after orchestrating a sophisticated fraud that diverted nearly half a million pounds from a GP surgery in Berkshire. Lauren Millington, 43, from St Mary’s Road in Hook, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges and was sentenced at Reading Crown Court.
Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
Millington carried out the crimes while employed as finance manager at The Waterfield Practice in Bracknell between February 2021 and November 2024. During this period, she fraudulently diverted a total of £456,666 from the GP practice through a calculated scheme that involved altering legitimate banking details for external medical suppliers.
The investigation revealed that Millington manipulated company systems, created fake invoices, and redirected payments to personal bank accounts under her control. Her actions were described by police as sophisticated and pre-meditated, involving systematic abuse of her position of trust over several years.
Accomplice Receives Suspended Sentence
Roger Happe, aged 44, of Alexander Road in Egham, Surrey, was identified as Millington's accomplice in the scheme. He received £25,190.57 in fraudulent funds into his personal bank account. Happe pleaded guilty to acquiring and possessing criminal property and was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for two years, along with 100 hours of community service.
Both individuals were arrested on January 15, 2025, and subsequently charged on December 4, 2025, following an extensive investigation by Thames Valley Police.
Police Investigation and Court Proceedings
The investigation began after The Waterfield Practice reported concerns about suspicious payments that appeared to have been made to external medical suppliers. Thames Valley Police's Volume Fraud Team in Berkshire uncovered the full extent of the offending, discovering that several bank accounts used in the scheme belonged to Millington, with one additional account belonging to Happe.
At a hearing on January 7, Millington pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of concealing criminal property. Happe entered his guilty plea on February 3 for his role in the criminal enterprise.
Impact on the GP Practice and Community
Detective Constable Jagdip Sekhon of the Volume Fraud Team emphasized the significant impact of the fraud, stating: "The fraud significantly impacted the company, leaving it short to provide essential support to the community it serves."
Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn, Head of the Central Fraud Unit, added: "The sentence reflects the severity of the offences whereby Millington systematically abused her position to defraud her employer of significant funds, leaving a huge hole in much needed public finances."
Police Statements on the Case
DC Sekhon further commented: "This was a calculated and sustained fraud in which Lauren Millington abused positions of trust to divert substantial sums of money for personal gain. Her actions were sophisticated and pre-meditated, involving the manipulation of company systems, the creation of fake invoices, and the use of personal bank accounts to conceal her activity over several years."
DI Wynn expressed hope that the length of sentence would act as a deterrent, stating: "I hope that the length of sentence imposed will act as a deterrent to others and demonstrate our commitment to pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice on behalf of victims."
The case highlights that fraud is not a victimless crime and demonstrates Thames Valley Police's commitment to pursuing those who exploit trust for financial gain, ensuring they are brought to justice through thorough investigation and prosecution.
