Woman jailed after stealing £363,000 from employer

A woman has been jailed for fraud after stealing more than £363,000 from her employer.

Jennifer Smith, age 50, of Foulsham Road, Wood Norton was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today (17 June 2026) to two years and eight months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position. 

The court heard how Smith abused her position as an accountant at an agricultural firm to transfer substantial amounts of money from business accounts to her personal bank account over a six year period.

When challenged by the company's director in 2025 about some discrepancies, Smith initially put it down to a few mistaken transactions. Early investigations showed £260,000 had been taken from the firm between May 2023 - October 2025. Further enquiries uncovered additional losses from previous years -  meaning a total of £363,082 was stolen between 2019-2025.

Following sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Gary Ranger said; "This case demonstrates how positions of trust can be abused. Smith stole hundreds of thousands of pounds from her employer, a loss which had a real impact on the business.

"Fraud is not acceptable in any shape or form and I hope Smith's conviction and subsequent imprisonment shows we will always endeavour bring offenders before the courts".