![\"Alec](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_JS393933602.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAlec Gandy has been locked up for his scam<\/p>\n
Alec Gandy has been jailed(Image: )<\/p>\n
This is the first picture of a manager who fleeced more than \u00a3123,000 from the NHS<\/a> trust where he worked.<\/p>\n Alec Gandy was working as a senior operational manager at the former Dudley<\/a> Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust when he stole public funds.<\/p>\n The 43-year-old set up ex-wife Kaylee Wright and friend Matthew Lane as ‘ghost’ contractors’ in a financial system so that he could funnel cash to their personal accounts.<\/p>\n Gandy would authorise invoices for non-existent services, with cash paid to his accomplices before they transferred a portion of their ill-gotten gains back to him.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Woman who ‘dismembered girlfriend and hid body in Midlands garden worked as butcher’ – jury told<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n An audit took place after Gandy quit his role, with the trust suspecting fraudulent activity and alerting the NHS Counter Fraud Authority.<\/p>\n Financial analysis revealed that Gandy spent more than \u00a392,000 of the cash on gambling and transferred \u00a312,000 to his own business.<\/p>\n In a statement read to the court, the trust’s director of finance said the money could have been used to improve patient care.<\/p>\n This could have been through the provision of additional roles within GP practices to supply more healthcare appointments for patients.<\/p>\n Funds also could have paid for four nursing associates, two community paramedics or two clinical pharmacists for a year.<\/p>\n Gandy, of Housman Way, Cleobury Mortimer, near Kidderminster, admitted fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for two-and-half-years on Friday, January 16.<\/p>\n Lane, 44, and Wright, 38, admitted money laundering,<\/p>\n Lane, now of Peggs Way, Basingstoke, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours unpaid work.<\/p>\n Wright, of Larks Rise, Cleobury Mortimer, was made subject to an 18-month community order, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.<\/p>\n Ben Harrison, head of operations at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: “This outcome endorses the value of our robust and objective approach to ensuring that anyone who attempts to defraud the NHS is brought to justice.<\/p>\n “This was a calculated scheme that diverted significant public funds away from frontline patient care.<\/p>\n “Our investigation, with the support of West Mercia Police, uncovered a deliberate abuse of position, with Gandy exploiting his senior role to manipulate NHS payment systems for personal gain.<\/p>\n “The NHS Counter Fraud Authority remains firmly committed to working tirelessly to protect vital NHS resources and we will continue to pursue those who seek to defraud our health service.<\/p>\n “We encourage anyone with suspicions of fraud against the NHS to report it through our confidential reporting channels.”<\/p>\n Ben Reid, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This case represents a serious breach of trust that diverted vital NHS funds meant for patient care.<\/p>\n “Gandy abused his position of responsibility as a public servant, while Lane and Wright knowingly participated in the scheme to facilitate this fraud.<\/p>\n “Fraud is not victimless and when such crimes are committed, they have a range of impacts \u2013 in this case, not only was money defrauded from the Trust, but time and money had to be spent on an internal investigation.<\/p>\n “The sentences handed down reflect the gravity of these offences against our public services.<\/p>\n “The CPS will continue to work closely with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority to ensure that those who seek to defraud the NHS are brought to justice.”<\/p>\n Read the full story from court here<\/a>.<\/p>\n