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A disgraced council finance chief has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting stealing £620,000 of residents' money. Former Camden LBC employee, John Baptiste, 57 (right), was recently sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court, after pleading guilty to four charges of theft from the bank accounts he managed. Mr Baptiste was head of the financial services team at the council, and was responsible for administering the bank accounts on behalf of vulnerable residents who were not able to look after their own financial affairs. His fraud was uncovered in February 2006, following an audit of small bank accounts. He was immediately suspended and charged, following a police and council investigation. Mr Baptiste was dismissed at a disciplinary hearing in February, following his guilty plea. ‘Baptiste was supposed to be looking after the financial interests of vulnerable people and it is deplorable that this fraud occurred,' said Camden's executive member for adult social care and health, Cllr Martin Davies. ‘We will not tolerate deception of any kind, and will take the toughest action possible if fraud is discovered. ‘It's a shame that the length of the prison sentence fails to reflect the impact his actions have had on so many vulnerable people. ‘We are now working with the police and other agencies to recover the stolen funds.' The council has now lodged a confiscation and compensation order with the court to seize Mr Baptiste's assets and recover the cash he owes. ‘Baptiste occupied a trusted position at the council, said DS Iain Mackickhan, of the Metropolitan Police's financial investigation unit. ‘He abused that position to steal from those less fortunate than himself in order to buy and furnish a lavish house in Grenada.'

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FINANCE

Finance chief is jailed

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