A top London chambers has obtained summary judgment and a money order against its former credit control manager after an alleged £2.75 million fraud perpetrated against the set.
Gillian Goodfield had responsibility for Pump Court Chambers' bank account and for ensuring funds were distributed to barristers. After she left her role £2.75m was found to be missing from the account.
Pump Court Chambers sought summary judgment against Goodfield, also known as Gillian Brown, following civil proceedings.
Applying to stay the civil claim, Goodfield, who appeared remotely and was not represented, said: ‘I have tried to fully cooperate with everyone involved and would like a chance for the criminal case to conclude before this process moves forward. I believe the evidence being gathered including my emails, text messages and other communications will show the…extreme mental state and pressure I was under at the time.’
Saaman Pourghadiri, for Pump Court, said: ‘Notwithstanding Miss Goodfield’s submissions there is no basis to suggest a stay is needed to protect justice of the criminal proceedings in this matter.’
Master McQuail refused the stay application. She said: ‘It is not clear that the defendant would take any different position or stance in these proceedings if there were to be any stay so far as concerns the privilege against self-incrimination. It is not clear to me that anything in these proceedings by way of admission by the defendant or other statements or disclosure of documents will, given statutory safeguards, will be something that would result in criminal proceedings being unfair or unjust or prejudicial to the defendant.’
In the summary judgment application, the court heard of the £2.75m stolen, £2.62m was transferred into bank accounts belonging to Goodfield or her husband and £130,000 into an Amazon account which was mostly used to buy goods for herself.
Pourghadiri told the court Goodfield was ‘spending beyond her means’ and her ‘legitimate income [was] totally and utterly dwarfed by the stolen funds’.
The judge made a summary judgment against Goodfield and a money judgment for £2.75m plus £336,016.87 interest. The order will also entitle the chambers to recover from Goodfield items allegedly purchased with the chambers’ funds.
Wiltshire Police said a woman had been arrested and released under investigation.
