Practice manager jailed after stealing thousands

AN Assistant practice manager at a GP surgery who stole tens of thousands of pounds from her employers over four years has been jailed. Grishma Girvan, 43, of Burges Road, East Ham, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and was sentenced to six months in

AN Assistant practice manager at a GP surgery who stole tens of thousands of pounds from her employers over four years has been jailed.

Grishma Girvan, 43, of Burges Road, East Ham, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and was sentenced to six months in prison at Isleworth Crown Court.

She stole more than 46,000 from Gill Street Health Centre in Limehouse over a period of four years from 2004-2008.

An audit of funds by the practice in early 2008 showed that tens of thousands of pounds was missing from its accounts.

Mrs Girvan's role as bookkeeper and assistant practice manager provided access to documents which she then used to steal the money.

Det Insp Paul Meaden said: "This was a person who had worked at the practice for fourteen years and decided to use her privileged position to steal money from her own employer.

"This was a premeditated act over several years taking relatively small amounts in an attempt to disguise what she was doing.

"To her credit, Mrs Girvan has since repaid all of the money, admitted the theft at the earliest opportunity and showed considerable remorse throughout.

"The short custodial sentence reflects this but also sends out a clear message to other people that when caught doing the same thing, they too will face time in prison."

Mrs Girvan was sentenced to six months in prison after a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, October 9.