A former head of the council’s pier and foreshore service has been fined and sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
Lee Sturgeon, 50, of Arnold Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, was convicted at Southend Magistrates’ Court on 2 October 2024, following an investigation by the council’s counter fraud and investigation team. He was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs and £2,595 in compensation to the council.
The investigation was launched after allegations surfaced that Mr Sturgeon had been profiting from selling scrap metal from the Pier. With assistance from the council’s licensing team, investigators discovered a payment of £2,595 made to Mr Sturgeon by a local scrap metal dealer. The payment, which came from the sale of metal from an old pier train chassis during the 2022 pier train replacement project, was not disclosed to the council. The metal was delivered to the dealer on Mr Sturgeon’s orders.
Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, expressed his disappointment: “We are deeply saddened by Lee Sturgeon’s actions. His conviction for fraud and money laundering is a serious breach of the trust placed in him by the council and the residents of Southend. Fraudulent activities will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable. Our commitment to protecting the city from fraud remains firm.”
He added, “A huge thank you to our counter fraud and investigation team, and the licensing team, whose hard work was instrumental in uncovering Mr Sturgeon’s actions and ensuring justice was served. We also appreciate the cooperation of the local scrap metal dealer and haulier, whose assistance was crucial in the investigation.”
As a result of the investigation, the council conducted an independent review of procedures at the Pier, and no health or safety concerns were identified. This prosecution underscores the council’s commitment to tackling fraud and safeguarding public funds.
Anyone with suspicions of fraud can report anonymously via email at counterfraud@southend.gov.uk or by calling 01702 215254.