Taxi firm director jailed after £700,000 fraud targeting business and staff pensions
- Perry Richardson
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
A former taxi firm director and bookkeeper who stole almost £700,000 from a taxi business and its employees’ pension contributions has been jailed for four years following an investigation by police economic crime officers.
Gemma Phoenix, 44, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at Hull Crown Court during an earlier hearing on 11 March 2026. She returned to court on Monday 27 April where she was sentenced to four years in prison.
Phoenix had been employed between April 2023 and August 2024 as a bookkeeper and director at a taxi firm, where she managed the company’s accounts and oversaw driver payments, office payroll and pension transfers.
The fraud came to light after concerns were raised that employee pension contributions had not reached the pension provider. Investigators later discovered the payments had instead been diverted into Phoenix’s personal bank account.
Former taxi company account manager sentenced to four years after diverting pension payments and company funds into her own bank account
Officers from the Economic Crime Unit launched an investigation after receiving reports from the business. Financial enquiries established that approximately £693,965 had been taken from company accounts over a 16-month period.
According to investigators, transactions were disguised using references including “Pension” and “HMRC” in an apparent attempt to conceal the fraud from the business and employees.
Digitally trained officers also examined Phoenix’s mobile phone during the investigation. Evidence recovered showed Phoenix had been telling friends she had won significant sums through gambling, which police believe was used to explain her access to money and avoid suspicion.
Phoenix was arrested in September 2024 on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position. During police interview she admitted taking money from the business, although investigators said she could not recall the total amount stolen.
The case highlights the financial risks facing smaller transport operators where payroll, pension administration and business accounts are often controlled by a limited number of senior staff. Pension contribution fraud can also expose businesses to regulatory scrutiny and leave employees without expected retirement payments.
Fraud by abuse of position offences are prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006 and typically involve individuals exploiting positions of financial trust for personal gain. Economic crime investigators increasingly rely on digital forensic analysis and banking records to trace concealed transactions and identify false accounting references.
Leading the investigation was Economic Crime Unit Police Constable Chelsea Walker, who said: “Phoenix is a business fraudster who stole thousands of pounds worth of money from the business all behind her work computer in the office.
“She was hidden in plain sight and was considered a trusted member of the business responsible for managing all the accounts, paying drivers and staff, and making crucial contributions to their pensions.
“Not only did Phoenix steal people’s hard-earned cash, she also severely impacted their future financial security and stability, with no regard as to how this would affect them.
“Whilst Phoenix apologised to the victims in court, the impact of what she has done cannot be underestimated, and because of her actions the business had to be sold to recoup the losses.
“I hope that her sentence will give her ample time to think about the crime she committed and how it has impacted not only the company, but the colleagues who considered her friends and who were betrayed by her in such a trusted role.”
