In a shocking case that highlights the darker side of online relationships, Hyacinth Blair, a 63-year-old administrator at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, admitted to stealing £80,000 from the trust’s accounts to send to her Nigerian online boyfriend. Between June 2021 and January 2023, Blair withdrew the money and transferred it to Michael Okafor, the man she claimed pressured her into the fraud.
During sentencing, Judge Lynn Tayton KC described Blair’s actions as a severe breach of trust. “These funds were intended to support public services,” she said, emphasizing the distress caused to colleagues and the wider community by the theft. The judge further warned that incidents like these undermine confidence in the trust’s financial controls and called for thorough reviews to prevent future breaches.
Blair initially told probation officers she was unsure why she took the money, later revealing she felt “helpless” and pressured by her online partner’s demands. However, the judge was clear that her sustained dishonesty could not be excused solely by external pressure or mental health struggles. Blair, who suffers from depression and is currently unemployed, received a suspended two-year jail sentence, avoiding prison due to her lack of previous convictions and positive character references.
Instead, she must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and undergo six months of mental health treatment. Judge Tayton sternly warned, “You are fortunate. Be very clear, if you come back before this court you will go to prison.”
This case serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities faced by those involved in online relationships and the importance of safeguarding public resources. It also underscores the ongoing challenges NHS trusts face in maintaining robust financial oversight to protect taxpayer funds.