John Godpower was employed at a well known chain of hotels and came to notice in late 2004. Poor financial control and the recruitment of unsuitable staff in some supervisory positions in the London and the South East area had resulted in substantial losses. Though fraud was suspected, widespread administrative failings made it difficult to evidence criminality to initiate a full Police investigation.

The case against Godpower proved an exception. In December 2004, Surelock operatives traced and interviewed a witness who had responded to an advertisement in a local newspaper for the position of Housekeeper at a hotel. He was interviewed by Godpower, who gave him the impression that he had secured the job and told him to bring in some identification to hasten his employment. Thereafter, the witness heard no more about the position and was unaware that Godpower had used details of his identity to create a bogus employee at the hotel

In all, the company lost a very large sum in wages and deductions in respect of this false employee. The matter was reported to Bedfordshire Police.

Surelock also identified two other employees suspected as bogus but the Police were unable to locate these individuals in order to prove that they too had their identities stolen by Godpower for fraud. Nevertheless, Godpower was charged with 15 counts of theft and false accounting relating to the deception and was also charged with a mortgage fraud (uncovered in the course of the enquiries).

Godpower was arraigned before Luton Crown Court and, after a number of appearances, pleaded “guilty” to all the charges on 17th March 2006. He received 6 months imprisonment. Proceedings then took place under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to make compensation.