A former council employee has been jailed after admitting stealing almost £900,000 from council accounts.
Richard Shaw aged 55 of Harrier Close, Bolton, transferred £893,296 to himself from benefit claimants’ accounts held by Bolton Council between 2015 and 2023.
He was jailed for four years and eight months at Bolton Crown Court today
Shaw had been managing the accounts as part of the council’s Financial Protection Team but was suspended when mismanagement of appointeeship cases was discovered and subsequently sacked for gross misconduct in March 2023 when the council identified and reported the possible fraud to GMP.
A lengthy investigation by our Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, with the full co-operation of the council, showed that Shaw had been transferring the money to his own accounts for a number of years.
He also transferred money between clients’ accounts in an attempt to hide his fraud.
He failed to attend his first crown court appearance on 23 September 2025 and was arrested by our officers on the same day in Blackpool. He had been on remand since that date.
He initially denied fraud by abuse of position but changed his plea to guilty at Bolton Crown Court in December 2025.
Investigations in 2023 showed several bank transfers to nine personal accounts held in Shaw’s name.
Just over £250,000 was transferred to one account, and £215,000 to another.
It is estimated to Shaw’s failure to act in the best interest of his clients meant he lost them a total of £129,749 in unclaimed benefits
Two BMW cars and several high-value items, including computers and bikes, were seized during a warrant at Shaw’s home address on 27 April 2023 when he was initially arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
