A military clerk who stole nearly £1 million from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for cosmetic surgeries in Turkey has been jailed.
Aaron Stelmach-Purdie, a former corporal, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday for offences of fraud and money laundering.
The 34-year-old, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, carried out the scheme over a 14-month period between November 2014 and January 2016 while working as a clerk at the MoD’s administrative headquarters in central London.
He exploited the MoD’s online system for processing staff expenses and allowances, defrauding £911,677 - of which he personally pocketed £557,093.
He exploited the MoD’s online system for processing staff expenses and allowances, defrauding the government of £911,677
PAStelmach-Purdie, who enlisted in the army at 16 and served tours in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, used some of the stolen money to fund trips to Turkey for cosmetic procedures including hair transplants, teeth whitening, and abdominal implants.
A search of his home by police uncovered luxury items including a Louis Vuitton luggage set and nine pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes, as well as three fake Patek Philippe watches.
Five other military clerks based at Regent’s Park Barracks were sentenced alongside Stelmach-Purdie after being convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
These are: former sergeant Roger Clerice, 28; Allan O'Neil, 48; Lee Richards, 41; Anthony Sharwood, 38; and Peter Wilson, 55.
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His Honour Judge Philip Bartle KC described Stelmach-Purdie as having played a "leading role in the fraud" and noted that he had previously been a "successful and accomplished soldier."
During sentencing remarks, the judge added: "Stelmach-Purdie was central to the commission of these frauds which would not have happened without his involvement. Without him, none of the other defendants would have become involved in the offences.
"He was responsible for the management and control of claims to expenses and allowances subject to the supervision of his superiors."
Stelmach-Purdie concealed the stolen funds by using other people's bank accounts and misled his mother, sister, and a friend about the source of the money, the court was told.
Stelmach-Purdie used some of the stolen money to fund trips to Turkey for cosmetic procedures including hair transplants (Stock Image)
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During a police interview, following the launch of an investigation, he claimed he had become "aware that people were making claims for allowances that they were not entitled to" after taking an administration job following "traumatising tours in Afghanistan".
He was dishonourably discharged from the armed forces in January 2016 after being convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child.
In August 2023, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to commit fraud and one count of money laundering.
A confiscation order hearing will take place at Southwark Crown Court on September 12.
