A former nurse has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after fraudulently claiming more than £70,000 from the NHS for shifts he never worked.
Dean Armitage, aged 33 and from Edmund Street in Bradford, exploited his position as a team leader and mental health practitioner at a secure mental health unit in Greater Manchester. He booked and approved 185 backdated overtime shifts between September 2019 and March 2021, despite not attending work on any of those occasions.
The false claims involved mostly night shifts, which were paid at a higher rate. By backdating them, they were excluded from standard rota records, allowing the fraud to go unnoticed. Internal data confirmed there was no evidence of Armitage entering or exiting the site during the claimed shifts.
The total cost to the NHS amounted to £72,632.71, including both wages and holiday pay. During this time, Armitage was reportedly struggling with a cocaine addiction and mounting debts.
He pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court to fraud by abuse of position. The court heard that the method used was calculated and persistent, representing a serious misuse of trust in a healthcare setting. The sentencing judge ruled that the offence was so severe that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.
Armitage was dismissed by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust following an internal investigation. The Nursing and Midwifery Council has suspended him from practicing as a nurse.
The court decided not to issue a compensation order due to Armitage’s ongoing debts and current reliance on state benefits. He remains unemployed and dependent on welfare support.
The NHS Trust has since reviewed its internal procedures to strengthen oversight and prevent future incidents of this nature.
