£600,000 Widows embezzler jailed

Robert Crawford, who took the money over 13 years, was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Livingston Sheriff Court today.

Crawford took £600,000 from policies which had not been claimed between May 2001 and December 2014.

The embezzlement was discovered when Scottish Widows was contacted about a forgotten policy. An investigation discovered the funds had been moved to Crawford’s account.

He was found to have spent some of the money on luxury holidays including a nine-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, and a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway which is believed to have cost £20,000.

The court heard today that Crawford has repaid £600,000 to Scottish Widows.

Andrew Richardson, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “Robert Crawford embezzled significant sums of money over years of employment, using other people’s investments to fund a lifestyle he was not entitled to.

“We will use all the powers available to us to prosecute those who would use their position for criminal gain.”