Convicted fraudster ordered to repay more than £160,000

A convicted fraudster has been ordered by the courts to pay back more than £160,000 which he scammed from a business in Thanet. 

Benjamin Cullen faces an additional prison sentence if he fails to pay the entire sum within three months.

In July 2022, Cullen was sentenced to four years and nine months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud by abuse of position.

The Herne Bay resident had stolen more than £240,000 after abusing his position as an IT director at a company he worked for, to authorise purchases for items such as home electricals, clothing, and jewellery.

He was arrested after an internal investigation had led to the discovery he was responsible for several fraudulent invoices and the misuse of a company credit card, between 2018 and 2020.

Proceeds of Crime Act

After Cullen was sentenced, Kent Police made an application to Canterbury Crown Court for a confiscation order, using powers contained within the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The act enables police to claw back money and assets which offenders have gained from their criminal activities and can be used again if the offenders come into further assets.

A hearing took place at the court on Friday 17 May 2024, where Cullen, 45, was found to have benefited from his criminal conduct to the value of £243,300.

His current available assets were determined to be £163,934 including equity in a property.

He was ordered to pay the £163,934 amount within three months or faces an additional 20 months in prison. 

Detective Inspector Dave Godfrey, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: ‘Cullen’s actions amounted to the gross abuse of a trusted position and the effects of his crimes have caused serious long-term harm to the company he worked for. 'This confiscation order demonstrates again that those who commit serious fraud will not only be brought to justice but will be deprived of their criminal gains, to rightly compensate their victims.’