Jail Sentence for MPS Director Who Stole £760,000 from UK Schools.

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Ex-Sales Director Jailed for £760K School Fraud
A former sales director who orchestrated a large-scale fraud that left schools across six counties facing surprise bills and legal action has been jailed for five years. Peter Nicholson, of Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of fraud and one count of acting as a director while bankrupt. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 26 September and banned from being a company director for eight years. Nicholson led the Managed Print Solutions (MPS) sales team at Tandem Solutions Group, based in Bourne. The firm, which supplied printers and photocopiers, collapsed in 2014 after internal investigations revealed widespread contract manipulation and falsified finance agreements, resulting in unexpected charges for dozens of schools.

Police say the fraud, motivated by sales commissions, caused losses of more than £760,000 to schools across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk. Four ex-colleagues also received suspended sentences or community orders for their involvement. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Knubley said the fraud diverted much-needed funds from children’s education, adding that the outcome reflected the determination of investigators who tackled the complex case. The Insolvency Service confirmed further recovery action will follow under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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September 28, 2025 at 10:46 PM