A 'greedy' Falkirk woman who stole more than £100k from Manchester City FC to pay for her wedding has been ordered to hand back just £2,550. Fiona Barclay was jailed for fraud last November after she syphoned off the cash while working as a business development manager with the club’s hospitality department.
After being caught, the 34-year-old told police she had used the stolen money to fund her nuptials and to buy ‘gifts’ for her husband and family. She was rumbled when accountants for the club flagged a suspicious transaction after a £25,000 refund had been issued.
Barclay was questioned and admitted she had made an ‘error’ by depositing £15,000 of the sum into her own bank account, the Manchester Evening News reports. A full investigation was launched by Man City who discovered the fraudster had been pinching money since June 2019 - with a total of £104k missing.
At a Proceeds of Crime hearing last week, Barclay appeared via video link from her native Falkirk and was ordered to hand back £2550 by October 6. Judge Timothy Smith said: “In light of everything uploaded, the benefit figure is £104,934.16, arising out of general criminal conduct.
The available amount is £2,550. This must be paid back by October 6.” He said the confiscation of the monies is to be paid as compensation directly to the club.
At the time, Barclay, who earned up to £30k a year, faced internal disciplinary proceedings at the club and was sacked in March 2021. She later pleaded guilty to an offence of fraud by abuse of position at Manchester Crown Court.
Her barrister, Patrick Buckley, said Barclay is 'utterly disgusted with herself'. "There is nothing in terms of reason or logical reason why she did what she did," he added.
Since being sacked by City, she has found a new job with a travel firm and told them about her conviction. Barclay has also tried to contact City to arrange repayment of the money she stole but has not heard back from them, the court heard.
Sending her to prison for 18 months, Recorder Ciaran Rankin said: "This is a tragedy, you have thrown so much away because of your dishonesty, and, I'm afraid, pure greed."
"You were employed in a good job, as a business development manager at Manchester City. Ultimately that was a job with some responsibility."
The judge said relegation was not a word associated with Premier League champions City, but that she had 'relegated' herself.
He added: "I'm afraid you have relegated yourself because of your greed and deception into the ranks of those who can no longer call themselves a person of good character.
Barclay, of Drum Farm Lane, Falkirk, was jailed for 18 months, of which she served half in prison and will serve the remainder on licence.
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