Medical practice manager, 55, who stole £155,000 from her employer while having an affair with one of the doctors is jailed for 18 months

• Jacqueline Rodger had a secret relationship with Dr Iain Hathorn at work
• Police dismissed allegations that she was forced into the relationship 
• The relationship was revealed after the official investigation was launched

A medical practice manager who stole £155,000 from her employer while having an affair with one of the doctors has been jailed for 18 months. 

Jacqueline Rodger, 55, had a secret relationship with Dr Iain Hathorn while she was working at the Greenhills Medical Practice in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

They had been having regular trysts since  2011 but the illicit affair ended when Rodger got married. 

The relationship was revealed after an investigation was launched into cash problems at the practice.  

Jacqueline Rodger (pictured), 55, had a secret relationship with Dr Iain Hathorn while she was working at the Greenhills Medical Practice in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire

The probe led to a confession from Hathorn who admitted having a ‘proper sexual affair’ with Rodger.

Police dismissed allegations that she was forced into the relationship.   

After the affair became public, Rodger, who claimed to have taken the money due to stress, told Hathorn by text message: ‘Iain, it’s Jacqueline. It was me that did it. I’m so sorry, so ashamed. You’re all such lovely people.’

A message sent to another doctor at the surgery said: ‘I am so sorry and ashamed of what I have done. You were all so good to me, I deserve everything that’s coming my way.’

The investigation showed Rodger, who had worked at the centre since 2008, had been moving money to her own account disguised as dozens of bogus payments to locum doctors and office supply firms.

Rodger, of East Kilbride, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where she admitted embezzling £155,012.71 between April 2014 and February 2018.

Sheriff Martin Jones KC said there was no alternative to prison.

Rodger had originally been accused of pocketing £224,375.39 but prosecutors accepted her guilty plea to the lesser amount.

The court was told the medical centre was forced to close after the money was stolen.

The relationship was revealed after an investigation was launched into cash problems at the practice (pictured: Cardiff Crown Court)

Speaking after the hearing, the former partners of Greenhills Medical Practice said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the sentence and feel justice has been done.

‘She was a trusted colleague who we regarded as a friend and we just feel totally betrayed.

‘The practice dissolved after this and all of our patients had to go elsewhere which is a real shame for them, some had been with us for 25 years and if she hadn’t taken the money we would have taken on another partner because we were just so busy.

‘There hasn’t been any remorse from her or any attempt to pay the money back.’

Depute fiscal Jennifer Cunningham earlier told the court how Hathorn was removed from the fraud investigation after he admitted his affair with the prime suspect.

She said: ‘Dr Hathorn explained the affair started in 2011 and described himself and the accused as being engaged in a ‘proper sexual affair’ that ended once she got married.’

The prosecutor added: ‘As a result of this investigation and the actions of the accused, the Greenhills partners decided to cease their contract with the NHS and, as of 31st October 2018, Greenhills Medical Practice ceased to exist.’

Rodger has also launched civil proceedings against the medical practice for unfair dismissal and sexual harassment.

Kevin Corr, defending, said: ‘The seriousness of this offence is not lost on Miss Rodger.

‘She is terrified about going into custody.’

Sheriff Jones said: ‘You have pled guilty to a very serious offence and embezzled £155,000 from the medical centre where you were employed as a trusted manager who was supposed to look after these funds.

‘Your culpability in this is high and the harm you caused was significant and I do not consider a community based disposal would reflect the gravity of this offence.’

The sheriff reduced the sentence from 21 months because of her guilty plea.

NHS Lanarkshire declined to comment.

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