A woman has been found guilty of fraud after deceitfully posing as a charity executive in order to purchase a substantial amount of defibrillators, a court has heard. Kimberly Lloyd, aged 35, was found guilty of one count of fraud following a trial at Newport Crown Court. The court was informed that Lloyd, of Oakmead Road in Llanharan, impersonated Sherilyn Hamilton-Shaw, a director of Cariad Medical Ltd, to procure the defibrillators.
Lloyd managed to place an order totalling £10,000 for the equipment, resulting in the delivery of five defibrillators to her grandparents’ residence. The scheme involved Lloyd concocting a false email using Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw’s name to make the purchases. The court was informed that an initial order worth £26,735 was placed with Zoll Medical under Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw’s name, but only five defibrillators were available in stock, leading to £4,452 worth of equipment being dispatched to Lloyd’s grandparents’ home in Newport Road, Cardiff.
Subsequently, another order for £6,252 worth of defibrillators and accessories was made in the same fraudulent manner, but this time, Zoll Medical was alerted by the complainant’s husband, Anthony Hamilton-Shaw, and the order was not fulfilled. A search warrant executed at Lloyd’s residence revealed her involvement in the scam, which prompted her to settle the balances owing on the orders. Lloyd admitted to setting up a fake email address and using her grandparents’ address but claimed it was an effort to investigate if Zoll Medical was engaging in marketplace manipulation.
After the verdict, Recorder Andrew Hammond remanded Lloyd on bail until her sentencing scheduled for December 6, cautioning her that she could face imprisonment as one of the potential sentences. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw were not financially impacted by the fraudulent activities attributed to Lloyd. The case shed light on the importance of diligence in verifying identities and orders, especially in transactions involving significant sums and medical equipment.
The incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of fraudulent activities, highlighting the need for vigilance and thorough authentication processes in commercial transactions involving high-value goods and services. Such cases underscore the vital role of due diligence and verification protocols in safeguarding against fraudulent activities and protecting the integrity of transactions.