Woman, 63, who stole £80k from NHS for online boyfriend in Nigeria avoids prison

An admin worker has been spared jail after it was revealed she stole£80,000 of NHS money for her Nigerian online boyfriend .

Hyacinth Blair, 63, withdrew tens of thousands of poundsfrom the South London and Maudsley NHS trust, where she worked as an administrator, between June 2021 and January 2023

She sent the cash to Nigerian man Michael Okafor after entering an online relationship with him. Blair, who admitted fraud by abuse of position, was slapped with a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years at the Old Bailey in London. It comes after the NHS warned mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease.

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She must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. In addition, Blair must undergo six months of mental health treatment.

“You are fortunate,” said Judge Lynn Tayton, KC. “Be very clear, if you come back before this court you will go to prison.”

Blair had no previous convictions. The judge said her references to her good character, remorse and that she could be rehabilitated meant she was prepared to suspend the sentence.

Blair, who is is now on universal credit and suffering with depression, told probation officers did not know why she took the cash, but felt pressured to do so. Judge Tayton said Blair's actions could not be explained only by her poor mental health and the pressure she was under to send cash to her online partner.

The judge said: "There had to be through review of financial controls and there has been an effect of on the council's reputation. Incidents like this undermine confidence in the council's systems.... The consequences of your actions will be felt for long time and the impact on staff and the community was severe."

She added: "In my view, there was sustained dishonesty not only explained by pressure or mental health issues."

Judge Tayton continued: 'This involved planning and abuse of trust. But you have no previous convictions and references speak of positive good character. You are remorseful.

"I am sceptical about some of the explanations but you have never been in prison before and there are some prospects of rehabilitation so I am prepared to suspend sentence."