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Pair conspired to steal £1.1 million

Pete Bainbridge
30/ 1/2008

A FORMER AstraZeneca worker and a graphic designer admitted conspiring to steal more than £1.1million from the pharmaceutical company.

Alan Hibbert, 40, previously catering manager at the firm’s Hurdsfield site, and graphic designer Dominic McCall, 41, each pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to steal money – totalling £1,113,963 – when they appeared before a judge at Chester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday).

The two men were released on bail and were ordered to surrender their passports to police today (Wednesday).

At yesterday’s hearing, Owen Edwards, counsel for the prosecution, told the court that the defendants had invoiced the company for work, a vast amount of which was never completed.

Mr Edwards said: "It’s accepted that some graphic design work and artwork was provided (to the company), but as time went on, it was less and less frequently provided."

Mr Edwards added that there were invoices submitted as evidence for £750,000 that "bear no relation to any services provided by the defendants".

Hibbert and McCall, who live together in Barber Booth, Derbyshire, will be sentenced next month.

Last night, a spokesman for AstraZeneca confirmed that Mr Hibbert formerly worked as catering manager at the Hulley Road site, in Macclesfield.

The spokesman added: "The company cooperated fully with the police inquiry and we regard the matter as very serious. It’s now a matter between the individuals and the police and we cannot comment any further."

The men are due to be sentenced in February.