Crooked cashier jailed for fraud

Sohaib Bhatti... pleaded guilty

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An Oldham cashier at the heart of a scam to steal over £20,000 from a building society has been jailed for two years.

Shamaela Kousar (22), of Kelverlow Street, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud and four counts of fraud by false representation when she appeared before Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, on Friday.

Five other people have been sentenced for their part in the scam.

Mark Robinson (22), of Bottomfield Close, and Sohaib Bhatti (26), of Merton Avenue, both Oldham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud at an earlier hearing and were jailed for 18 months.

Yan Cheung (22), of Moorland Fold, Stalybridge, Dawn Winterbottom (32), of Second Avenue, Limeside, and Kalimaree Ellen (30), of Cardigan Road, Hollinwood, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud at an earlier hearing and were sentenced to carry out unpaid work.

In May, 2008, Bhatti approached the other conspirators, who agreed to take part in a scam to steal from the Cheshire Building Society.

They were told there was an “inside person” working at the Ashton-under-Lyne branch who would process false cheques.

Robinson, Winterbottom, Ellen and Cheung opened accounts in their own names, and in May, 2008, the four went into the Ashton-under-Lyne branch while Kousar was working.

Within 45 minutes, Cheung, Winterbottom, Ellen and Robinson deposited cheques worth more than £161,000 with Kousar, who processed them knowing the payments were fictitious.

The accounts were such that the holder could withdraw the money straightaway.

A total of £23,629 was obtained by the offenders, but Robinson was denied a Euro exchange cheque of £7,493 in Accrington.

That raised suspicions with the building society, and the police were called in.

Det Con Wayne Redford, from Tameside CID, said: “Some of those involved in this conspiracy did so because they were short of money and thought they would make a quick buck out of this criminal enterprise.

“They were naïve and foolish and have paid the penalty. However, Winterbottom, Ellen and Cheung should be given credit because they were at least prepared to give evidence against Kousar, who continued to deny her part in this scheme throughout her trial.

“She had a position of trust in the building society and she completely abused it, deliberately processing bogus checks and effectively stealing more than £23,000 from her employers.

“Thankfully, she and her co-conspirators did not get away with it.”