A former bank adviser who claimed she helped steal £123,000 from a customer after conmen threatened to publish naked pictures of her has been locked up for three years and three months.
Anisyah Ali, 25, who worked at Halifax’s North Finchley branch, passed confidential details to her then fiance Salim Hussain, 29, and others who looted Julian Masters’ bank account.
She abused her position as a personal banker to order a new debit card and PIN number, which fell into the hands of the crooks.
The dodgy card was then used to withdraw large sums of cash and purchase high-value items such as cars and gold jewellery, the Old Bailey heard.
Ali claimed she only agreed to help with the fraud after the conmen threatened to publish compromising photos of her online in the run-up to her and Hussain’s wedding.
Muslim Ali wept as she told how her friends and family had deserted her after the naked ‘sexts’, which she had sent to a previous lover, ended up on a Danish porn website and fake Facebook profile.
Hussain also claimed he and his now ex-wife Ali were subjected to a campaign of harassment by Alexander Syed, 33, who pleaded guilty to fraud, but claimed it was Hussain who pressured him into committing the crime.
A jury found Ali guilty of two counts of fraud and Hussain guilty of one count after a trial.
The judge, Mr Recorder Michael Shorrock QC sentenced them both to three years and three months imprisonment. He said: “Between March and May 2012 you three deliberately targeted the bank account of a man called Julian Masters, which he had with the Halifax bank.”
By the time the customer spotted the fraud, purchases totaling £123,000 had already been approved. The bank declined another £114,000.
Ali of Norwood, south London, was convicted of one count of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by abuse of position.
Salim of Southall was found guilty of a single count of fraud by false representation.
Syed, of Northolt, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
Co-defendant Zain Hussain, 28, of The Avenue, Hounslow, west London, was acquitted of fraud by false representation.
