Army Clerk Jailed for £1 Million Fraud Spree Spent on Cosmetic Upgrades

A former military clerk has been jailed for playing a central role in a sophisticated fraud scheme that siphoned nearly £1 million from the Ministry of Defence.

Aaron Stelmach-Purdie, 34, from Oldham, Lancashire, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of fraud and money laundering. The court heard that he orchestrated the scheme while working as a clerk at the MoD's administrative headquarters in central London between November 2014 and January 2016.

Stelmach-Purdie exploited the MoD's digital platform for processing staff expenses and allowance claims, manipulating the system to defraud the Government of £911,677. He personally retained £557,093, which he spent on cosmetic procedures and luxury items. Prosecutors revealed that he travelled to Turkey for hair transplants, teeth whitening, and abdominal implants. When police searched his home, they discovered a Louis Vuitton luggage set and nine pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes.

Five other military clerks were also convicted in connection with the fraud, charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. Peter Wilson, 55, from Kidderminster in Worcestershire, received a two-year suspended prison sentence along with 200 hours of unpaid work. Lee Richards, 41, from Amesbury in Wiltshire, received the same sentence and community service requirement. Anthony Sharwood, 38, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was given a 15-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Roger Clerice, 28, received a 12-month suspended sentence with 100 hours of community service. Allan O'Neil, 48, from Droitwich, Worcestershire, was handed a 12-month community order.

The court concluded that Stelmach-Purdie had played a leading role in the operation, abusing his position of trust to facilitate widespread financial misconduct within a system designed to support military personnel.

Whitestone Solicitors