A personal assistant stole more than £166,000 from a former business director while living in a £1million home.
Hemalatha Jayaprakash, 44, joined the Birmingham-based Northwood estate agents in 2012 as a personal assistant to director Nin Rehal, 57.
Jayaprakash stole more than £6,000 knowing he was out of the office because his mother had passed away 24 hours earlier.
The officer manager splurged on lottery tickets, Greggs and Deliveroo takeaways.
When he decided to sell in 2023, Jayaprakash’s fraud was exposed when the accounts were examined.
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In court, Jayaprakash said she sent money to pay her child’s school fees and help relatives in India who lost their homes in floods.
Jayaprakash wailed in anguish when she was jailed for two years and three months at Birmingham Crown Court on May 21 after pleading guilty to fraud and abuse of position.
Rehal said he was ‘devastated’ that he had been betrayed by his trusted personal assistant.
He said: ‘This fraud was not opportunistic; it was calculated, premeditated and a sustained scheme executed over multiple years.
‘I used to confide in Jayaprakash in daily meetings, sometimes in tears, but she would tell me not to worry about the office, all is in control with the team.’
Jayaprakash turned up at Rehal’s mother’s funeral with her husband. Rehal said: ‘This is the level of greed, deception and betrayal we are dealing with.’
He told the court he had to release equity from his family home to make ends meet, including supporting his two children at university.
Rehal added: ‘Meanwhile, Mrs Jayaprakash resides in a £1million property, purchased outright in 2018, and benefits from income generated by a portfolio of at least eight rental properties.’
Jayaprakash’s husband said his family had no idea about her deception and were planning a family trip to India.
She told him she was driving off in the family Land Rover to view offices for a new job but was instead appearing in court.
The family only found out she had been jailed 12 hours later, following their own search and getting in contact with police.
Jayaprakash told MailOnline: ‘We weren’t aware of any of this, it is such a difficult time for the family. We had absolutely no idea.
‘My wife didn’t need the money and we are trying to find out what really happened, and maybe she was coerced by someone.
‘We don’t have any money issues, we are not struggling financially, so why would she do this?
‘We cannot comprehend this, it is beyond belief and we are totally shattered and devastated. It is such a shock.’
Recorder Amy Jackson said: ‘Everything I have read about this lady takes me to the belief she is from an affluent background where she ought not to need to steal to fund a lifestyle and effectively does lead a lavish lifestyle. This was pure greed.’
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held on August 26 to determine issues around confiscation, costs and compensation.
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