Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son

The head of a school equestrian centre never authorised any overtime payments to the Chief Executive’s son while he was working in the yard, a jury heard on Tuesday

Richard Gilliland, who was chief executive of the Priory Federation of Academies (PFA), denies defrauding the organisation out of thousands of pounds as well as employing his son, Kia Richardson, after suppressing a CRB check which revealed his past criminal convictions.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court has been told Richardson was employed as a yard manager at the PFA’s Laughton Manor Equestrian Centre, near Sleaford, between February and June 2011.

Giving evidence, Robert Reeve, who was headmaster at the Laughton equestrian centre, said he was not aware of two alleged overtime payments which were made to Richardson until a Department of Education audit report was published in March 2012.

Reeve, who is now Director of Operations for the PFA, told the jury he was Richardson’s line manager but was never asked anything about any overtime payments to him.

Asked how many overtime requests were made by Richardson to him, Reeve replied: “Never.”

“People couldn’t chose to do overtime, it was at a line manager’s suggestion because of the need. The person would undergo the overtime and be appropriately signed,” Reeve told the court.

“We have forms to do that.”

Asked how many times he authorised overtime to Richardson, Reeve replied: “None.”

Reeve confirmed that Gilliland came to the yard with his wife at the end of June 2011 and told him that the News of the World newspaper was going to print a story about his son.

“He alluded to general aspects of things in Kia Richardson’s past, in general terms troubles he had, but nothing more than that,” Reeve said.

Reeve said Richardson was driven away by his parents and another member of staff was told to lock up the Manor.

Asked if he had any prior knowledge of Richardson’s previous convictions or prison sentence for flashing before the News of the World inquiry, Reeve replied: “Absolutely not.”

When asked why he had not previously considered sacking Richardson, Reeve said: “To put it bluntly I dare not approach it because of his father’s role and style of management.”

Reeve told the jury he would not have employed Richardson in the Laughton Manor setting had he been aware of his CRB check.

Gilliland, 64, who now lives in Spain, denies six charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

The PFA’s former finance director Stephen Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, also denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

The trial continues.

Follow the progress of the trial so far:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils

Due to the judge’s ruling on Friday, November 13, any comments on the ongoing trial on The Lincolnite will be removed.