Two former managers at Edinburgh Airport have today been sentenced for fraud.
At the Sheriff Court in Edinburgh, both Steven Spalding (46) and Stephen Cunningham (41) were sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Spalding had been employed as the Operations Manager Property & Retail and Cunningham employed as the Commercial Account Manager.
Following an internal airport disciplinary hearing both resigned in November 2013.
A subsequent police investigation confirmed that they had both abused their positions to commit a number of frauds.
Enquiries revealed that pressure had been exerted on an external supplier to the airport, and false invoices had been created to show consultancy fees, which were paid into a bank account of Spalding.
Analysis of bank accounts revealed that exactly half of these funds were paid onto Cunningham. Spalding also intercepted the process of a further payment from an off airport contractor, which was paid directly into his account.
They also abused their positions as managers to secure fuel cards and laptops, which they were not entitled to.
Detective Inspector Arron Clinkscales of Police Scotland said: “The police investigation revealed that both Steven Spalding and Stephen Cunningham abused their positions as managers and carried out calculated schemes of deception over a prolonged period, to obtain funds and other goods and services, which they were clearly not entitled to. They applied pressure on an external supplier, threatening to withdraw airport contracts, unless fraudulent payments were made to them.
“Police Scotland will thoroughly investigate any reports of wrongdoings by employees, and report the circumstances to the Procurator Fiscal, where appropriate.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
