New Forest District Council’s commitment to “protecting public funds”. Former employee jailed
An Ex-New Forest District Council worker Richard Cullen and his friend 34 years of age Mark Diaper, who worked in a roof manufacturing company that is closed now both sentenced to prison for seven years and eight months combined by the Southampton Crown court, in 118 cases of bribery and fraud were the cases.
Richard Cullen, age 55 from Luton was suspended first because he fell asleep at his desk. And now, he awarded many inflated roofing contracts to his friend. He told his friend Diaper he would act like a madman if he was caught.
The scandal involving Diaper’s bribery of Cullen for preferential treatment in securing contracts has sent shockwaves through the New Forest community. It’s a tale of deceit and corruption that has tarnished the reputation of both individuals and raised serious questions about the integrity of the New Forest District Council‘s contracting processes.
The nefarious scheme orchestrated by Diaper involved greasing the palms of Cullen to ensure that contracts were steered his way. In return, inflated invoices were submitted to the New Forest District Council, masking the true nature of the transactions. While the initial contract may have been valued at a mere £88,000, the actual sum of the jobs awarded to Diaper’s company far exceeded this amount. Cullen’s collusion in the scheme ensured that maintenance charges were directed to Diaper’s firm, netting him a tidy 10% cut of the profits from each contract.
The sheer scale of the deception is staggering. Cullen, motivated by greed and a willingness to exploit his position for personal gain, pocketed a substantial £37,000 in illicit bribes. Meanwhile, Diaper shamelessly raked in a whopping £125,000 from a total of £233,000, all under the guise of fraudulent contracts. These contracts were awarded not on merit. But based on a corrupt relationship representing a betrayal of the publics trust and making a mockery of fair business competition.
The fallout from this scandal extends far beyond the individuals involved. It calls into question the efficacy of the NFDC’s oversight mechanisms and highlights the urgent need for reforms to prevent such abuses from occurring in the future. The community has been left reeling from the revelation of such widespread corruption within its midst. There is a palpable sense of outrage and disillusionment among taxpayers who rightly expect their hard-earned money to be used responsibly and ethically.
As investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, one thing is clear: the full extent of Diaper and Cullen’s wrongdoing must be exposed and those responsible are held to account for their actions. Only then can steps be taken to restore trust in the integrity of our public service institutions and ensure that such flagrant abuses of power are never allowed to happen again.
This scandal raises questions about the integrity of NFDC’s contracting processes and tarnishes both individuals’ reputations. Cullen illicitly pocketed £37,000, while Diaper shamelessly amassed £125,000 from fraudulent contracts, betraying public trust and undermining fair business competition.
The fallout extends to the New Forest community, prompting the need for reforms to prevent future abuses. The public’s trust in the service is eroded, with a palpable sense of outrage among taxpayers. As investigations continue, it’s crucial to fully expose Diaper and Cullen’s wrongdoing, holding them accountable. Only then can trust in public institutions be restored, ensuring such abuses of power are prevented. The sentencing by Judge Peter Henry, including the order to repay taxpayers’ money, underscores the Council’s serious commitment to protecting public funds, as emphasised by CEO Kate Ryan.
The duplicity was found in January 2019 when it was noticed the sharp increase in the money paid by Cullen to the roofing company had risen in one fiscal year by 146%.
Judge Peter Henry sentenced both defendants and ordered them to pay back the taxpayers’ money. Cullen was sentenced to 4 years and 10 months while Diaper was handed 2 years and 8 months at Southampton Crown Court.
The Council’s CEO Kate Ryan said the council’s duty to protect public funds is taken “very seriously”.
