A senior NHS manager has been sentenced to over two years in prison for defrauding several hospitals to pay for a stud farm.

Louise Tomkins, 47, pled guilty after an extensive investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service and Scotland Yard uncovered her dirty dealings.

Between July 2007 to September 2008 she abused her position of trust as a general manager at the former Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust (now Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) and then interim Director of Operations for Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, to divert public money to fund her private horse and stud farm business.

Forged invoices then paid herself

She fabricated and manipulated invoices which she then authorised payment through the NHS. These invoices represented payments for goods and services that were not required by nor provided to the Trust. These included the purchase of horses and the importation of horse sperm for breeding top class horses.

Her role at the Hammersmith Hospital included acting as a Fund Advisor for Hospital Charitable Funds. Using falsified invoices Tomkins misused Charitable Funds for her own business.

Detective Constable Gareth Rees from Hammersmith and Fulham CID said: 

"Louise Tomkins held a position of responsibility within the NHS, and whilst employed in this role, she falsely submitted medical invoices in order to personally benefit financially to the amount of £200,000.

This money funded her lavish lifestyle in the equestrian world. Her full guilty plea demonstrates the hard work and dedication shown by all staff involved in this investigation."

Yesterday the Judge at Southwark Crown Court jailed her for two years and nine months imprisonment - confiscation proceedings have commenced to recover the falsely obtained monies.

Used agencies to work whilst suspended

Tomkins was suspended by Imperial College NHS Trust on in September 2008 shortly after allegations were first made. She was charged at Hammersmith and Fulham police station on 11 August 2009. At a disciplinary hearing held by the Trust she was dismissed for gross misconduct.

Whilst under investigation, she continued to seek employment in the NHS using Employment Agencies. She attempted to gain work under the names of Tonka Joud or Rosemarie Joud.

The investigation also prevented the payment of a substantial redundancy package of £41,944.00 being granted to Tomkins after she had brought a grievance against the Trust.