A former National Trust employee, Roger Bryant, 73, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for defrauding the organization of more than £1 million. Appearing at Bristol Crown Court, he was accompanied by his sons, James, 49, and Scott, 38, who aided in laundering the stolen funds.
Bryant, who worked as a building surveyor, fraudulently approved 148 invoices from companies linked to his sons for non-existent work. The money was funneled into their accounts. The scheme was uncovered in October 2013 during a procurement review at the National Trust, revealing discrepancies in invoices from a company that had no prior recognition among management.
Following the discovery, Bryant attempted to obstruct justice by urging witnesses to lie about witnessing the fabricated work. He also hid National Trust documents at his son’s farm while claiming that the Trust had lost crucial paperwork that could exonerate him.
In a separate incident, he submitted invoices for actual work performed on his own property, falsely attributing it to National Trust properties. An expert surveyor found no evidence of the claimed work, and investigations showed that the companies involved in the fraud were not legitimate.
Roger Bryant was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, while James received four years and Scott was given an 18-month suspended sentence along with 170 hours of community service.
Sian Mitchell from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the significant breach of trust, stating that the funds should have supported the National Trust’s charitable efforts. Confiscation proceedings against the defendants are in motion to recover the stolen funds.
Detective Inspector Adam Bond noted the complexity of the case and thanked witnesses for their cooperation throughout the investigation, which ultimately led to guilty verdicts on most charges. The sentences reflect the severity of the fraud against a respected charitable organization dedicated to preserving the nation’s heritage.