Worker jailed for £750k theft

A former employee of Wolverhampton-based construction giant Carillion was today jailed for three years after admitting stealing more than £750,000 from the company.

Sarah Prendergast, aged 34, bought a cruise, a car and gifts for her children with the money, which was destined for sub-contractors.

She appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court this afternoon where she admitted 11 charges of obtaining money transfers by deception. She asked for a further 61 offences to be taken into consideration.

Prendergast, of Davenport Road, Tettenhall, was charged by detectives in November last year. The charges cover the period between April 2002 and March 21 2006. The total amount of money taken was £752,739.

The court heard she was an accounts supervisor with Carillion and later with consultants Accenture, which looks after Carillion's finances and human resources. She moved money intended for Carillion sub-contractors, including Tarmac, into one of three of her own bank accounts.

Prendergast sat quietly in the dock while legal argument about the case was heard in front of Judge Sybil Thomas. She made her guilty plea this afternoon.

Carillion, which is based in Birch Street in the city centre, has a workforce of around 58,000.