Sisters Jailed for Fraudulent Gift Aid Scheme

Sara Barnbrook, 54, and her sister Jean, 51, were sentenced for defrauding the HMRC out of nearly £450,000 through a fraudulent Gift Aid scheme while running Girl Guide groups in Leeds. Over six years, Sara claimed £1.9 million in non-existent donations, resulting in £446,000 being paid out, which the sisters funneled into personal accounts for luxury purchases and home improvements. The scam was uncovered when Jean inquired about a payment for a Girl Guides group that had been closed for 18 months. Sara received a three-year prison sentence for cheating the public revenue, while Jean was sentenced to 30 months for money laundering. The court highlighted that many of the claimed donors were unaware their identities were used in the scheme. The sisters' extravagant spending included £67,000 on luxury items and significant amounts on travel and clothing.