NHS Fraud Duo Avoid Jail After Defrauding Health Service of Over £60,000
A former NHS locum paramedic and a recruitment consultant have been handed suspended prison sentences after being convicted of defrauding the National Health Service out of more than £60,000. The case, investigated by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), concluded at Wolverhampton Crown Court today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Suspended Sentences and Rehabilitation Orders
Karl Lavender, aged 43 and from Stretton in Staffordshire, received a sentence of 22 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. In addition to the suspended term, Lavender was ordered to complete a 12-month mental health treatment programme and 62 days of rehabilitation across two separate programmes. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
Adam Kilgallon, aged 39 and from Twickenham, was also sentenced to 22 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Kilgallon must undertake a three-month alcohol treatment programme, complete 10 days of rehabilitation, and perform 175 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. He too had pleaded guilty to both counts of fraud by false representation on the same date in November 2025.
Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
From 2017 until 2024, Lavender worked as a locum paramedic for a private clinical staffing agency, where he was managed by Kilgallon, a recruitment consultant responsible for handling NHS clients and candidates in the Midlands region. In September 2022, Lavender was contracted to work for the Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust (DIHC).
Between September 2022 and June 2024, Lavender submitted altered, inflated, and false timesheets under the direction of Kilgallon. The total amount defrauded from the NHS was £63,835. DIHC referred the case to the NHSCFA on suspicion of fraud, prompting an investigation that involved analysing banking records, conducting interviews under caution, and gathering witness statements.
Investigators also obtained telecommunications evidence showing Kilgallon directing Lavender to amend timesheets and add extra shifts. Lavender was based at two GP surgeries in Dudley: St James Medical Practice and Eve Hill Medical Practice. On 69 occasions between September 2022 and March 2024, he submitted altered and inflated timesheets for shifts he did not work, amounting to £34,386.00.
Furthermore, between March 27, 2024, and June 12, 2024, Lavender continued to submit weekly paper timesheets even after he had stopped working for DIHC. He fraudulently altered the dates of previously approved and signed timesheets, entering new dates for those weeks, which resulted in an additional £29,449.20. The staffing agency has already made repayments to the NHS for this amount.
Financial Implications and Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Although Kilgallon did not receive direct payments from Lavender, he earned commission on top of his basic salary by keeping Lavender employed at DIHC. An estimated £1,223.81 of this commission is suspected to have been obtained through Lavender's fraudulent timesheets. NHSCFA Financial Investigators are now utilizing their powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002 to trace and recover the remaining lost funds.
Statement from NHS Counter Fraud Authority
Ben Harrison, Head of Operations and Engagement at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, commented on the conviction, stating, "This conviction demonstrates the skill and dedication of our investigators, who meticulously traced the evidence through banking records, telecommunications, and detailed interviews to build an irrefutable case."
He added, "Over nearly two years, Lavender submitted inflated claims for shifts he never worked, directed by Kilgallon, his manager. This case highlights the importance of robust timesheet verification processes. We will continue to pursue those who defraud the NHS and ensure they face the full consequences of their actions."
Members of the public can report NHS fraud anonymously by calling the 24-hour reporting line at 0800 028 40 60, powered by Crimestoppers, or confidentially through the NHSCFA website at www.cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud.
