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JAILED: Accountant pocketed £30k from recycling firm where five workers were killed

An accountant who swindled money from a recycling firm where five workers were killed in a tragic accident has been jailed.

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Joanne Perry, from Walsall, pocketed £30,000 from Nechells-based Shredmet last summer.

The 45-year-old, of Walstead Road in The Delves, made payments into her own account from the company coffers before and after tragedy struck in July when a wall collapsed and claimed the lives of five people.

Perry had removed the money for herself on several occasions between June 30 and September 19.

In December she appeared before magistrates having pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.

On January 5 at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Melbourne Inman QC sentenced Perry to two years and four months in prison.

Prosecutors are seeking to recoup her fraudulent gains through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

On July 7 a huge wall made up of 1.5ton concrete blocks collapsed at the Hawkeswood Metal Recycling site around 8.40am.

Five men who were working next to the 15ft structure were pronounced dead at the scene.

They were all Spanish nationals, originally from Gambia.

Another man was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.

The victims were named as Saibo Saillah, Ousman Jabbie, Mohammed Jangana, as well as Alimamo Jammeh and Bangaly Dukureh, who were both from Aston.

All the men were married with young families, Mr Saillah had three-year-old twins, and Mr Jangana had a baby.

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