A shocking case of betrayal as Sharon Wathan, 55, from Bridgend, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding a family-run business of over £240,000. As an account manager at CMU Management for more than two decades, Wathan exploited her role and took advantage of the company’s financial hardships following the pandemic.
During a routine pensions review in April 2024, discrepancies were discovered that revealed Wathan had been unlawfully enhancing her payroll and claiming false overtime. The impact of her fraudulent activities was devastating, with the company already struggling to stay afloat and having to make difficult redundancies.
Wathan’s deceit was finally brought to light in a September 2024 investigation. Despite confessing and showing remorse, the damage to the company’s morale and community spirit had already taken its toll. Caroline Davies, the general manager, expressed the deep impact on the team and the additional strain it placed on her personal life as she led the investigation effort in her spare time.
In court, it was revealed that Wathan had attempted to repay the money by selling her home, demonstrating her remorse. However, the judge highlighted the ongoing nature of the fraud, stating that Wathan continued because she thought she could get away with it.
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