MAN STOLE £150K OF NHS MONEY AND STALKED WOMAN ON LINKEDIN
A man received a custodial sentence after engaging in stalking behaviour, which involved sending threatening anonymous letters to an accountant who he believed had condescending LinkedIn posts.Christian Jennings, 63, who was on bail for a separate fraud case, became obsessively fixated on Jeri Williams, a professional with a following of 92,000 on LinkedIn.
His arrest in 2023 followed investigation into his theft of £150,000 from the NHS, while he was managing a GP practice in south-east London.
After his arrest, Jennings initiated a series of anonymous threats directed at Ms Williams, claiming she was "marked" and even threatening harm to her dog.
In police interviews, Jennings admitted that he targeted Ms Williams because her success stories and “glamour and glory” had upset him, and he described her LinkedIn comments as "condescending." He was sentenced on May 7 to two years and four months after pleading guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of position and stalking.
Court documents revealed that Jennings falsified invoices and diverted legitimate NHS payments into his personal bank account over a period of six years, while working at Camberwell Green Surgery.
His misconduct was uncovered in 2019 during a financial review prompted by suspicions raised by the new practice manager, leading to the discovery of stolen funds amounting to approximately £151,841, as stated by prosecutor Michaela Onuchukwu.
Jennings was released on bail but continued his harassment campaign between January and August 2025, sending six anonymous letters containing detailed information about Ms Williams' personal life and business.
His communications included offensive terms, images, and warnings, such as a dartboard with the message “you are marked, darling,” and a photo of her puppy with a cautionary note.
Police linked Jennings to the threats after investigation, and although Ms Williams was initially unaware of his identity, she saw evidence of his contacts on her LinkedIn profile from 2020.
Ms Williams described the impact of the harassment, highlighting her ongoing fear and the financial burden of relocating her business for safety reasons.
She explained, “I no longer go on dog walks alone and have to be accompanied by my husband as I’m terrified.
Jennings’ actions have caused me to drastically alter my personal and professional routines.” Defence attorney Edward Fenner stated Jennings felt deep remorse and had already repaid £32,000, planning further repayment through property equity.
He explained that Jennings was under severe financial pressure, including high maintenance costs for children, a long commute, and exhausted credit limits, which pushed him toward committing fraud.
Judge Philip Shorrock, referencing Jennings’ prior convictions from two decades ago, emphasised that Jennings held a position of trust at the practice.
He described the stalking as very distressing for Ms Williams.
The court sentenced Jennings to two years and four months, also ordering him to clear the remaining £120,000 within a year.
