Former finance boss of Brighton University, David Hall, has been sentenced to six years in jail after stealing more than £2 million from the university over the course of 30 years. Hall spent the

money on "lots of lovely things," including holidays and fine dining, he admitted in court. Hall covered up his crimes by making fraudulent entries into the university's accounts. The university contacted Hall when they realised that millions of pounds were missing. The Sussex police launched an investigation into the fraud, which they said required forensic scrutiny. They are still trying to ascertain the exact amount stolen.

Hall admitted his crimes via email, stating that he should have come clean sooner. He was arrested upon his return to the UK from a holiday in France. The university expressed concern over the impact that the case would have on their reputation and funding streams, and they released an impact statement outlining the effects on staff, finances, reputation, and student experience. Staff in the finance department faced extra pressure and workload as a result of the investigation, with some unable to sleep due to the atmosphere of suspicion.

Hall's defence lawyer, Tom Nicholson-Pratt, stated that his client had come from an impoverished background and grew up with bailiffs knocking on the door. He also said that Hall's debts began to grow when he got married and used credit cards. Nicholson-Pratt argued that Hall should be considered of good character since he did not have a criminal record, was honest about his crimes once confronted, and wanted to apologise to his family, colleagues, and students. Nicholson-Pratt also stated that Hall wanted to help fellow prisoners with their education.

Judge Rodger Chapple disagreed with Nicholson-Pratt's assertion that Hall should be considered of good character, given that he had been acting dishonestly for 30 years. Judge Chapple described the scale and breadth of Hall's dishonesty as breathtaking and outlined the enormous damage caused to the university and the heartache and pressure felt by Hall's colleagues. Hall pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, theft by an employee, and false accounting at Brighton Magistrates' Court on February 16.

In conclusion, David Hall's fraudulent actions have had a devastating impact on Brighton University's finances, reputation, and staff. While Hall's lawyer argued that he should be considered of good character, the judge disagreed, stating that Hall had been acting dishonestly for 30 years. The case highlights the importance of strong financial controls in institutions and businesses and the need for regular monitoring and auditing to prevent fraud. Photo by Artsbrighton Michael John Wilson, Wikimedia commons.