Former Lloyds anti-fraud boss on £2.5m false expenses charge

The former head of digital banking fraud and security at state-backed Lloyds bank has been charged with defrauding her employer by submitting £2.5m worth of false expense claims.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says it has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Jessica Harper with one count of fraud by abuse of position.

The CPS said the charge related to an allegation that Harper submitted false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,751m to which she was not entitled between September 2008 and December 2011.

“This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and a prosecution is in the public interest,” said Andrew Penhale, Deputy Head of the CPS Central Fraud Group.

Harper will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court in London on May 31.