Former senior staff at E.ON and British Gas jailed for accepting bribes

Senior managers uncovered evidence that both men had been taking bribes from sub-contractor companies working on E.ON’s projects, particularly so at Cranbrook (a new-build suburb outside Exeter). The duo continued to accept bribes once they were at British Gas.

The bribes, which occurred between 2011 and 2015, took many different forms, including payments, transfer of ownership of desirable vehicles, false references and wage slips for mortgage and rental applications, stays in hotels and even an air conditioning unit.

Baker and Heyward accepted bribes from contractors Richard King and Tim Paterson of RK Civil Engineering Ltd and Andrew Blunsdon of Priddy Engineering Services Ltd.

Baker and Heyward funnelled payments through business accounts they controlled and provided fake invoices in the company names to conceal the true nature of the payments.

For his part, Mark Baker also persuaded E.ON to employ his wife Angela Baker as a ‘planner’, a role for which she was paid the sum of £109,000 in a 21-month period, despite her doing no such work.

Sentencing outcome

Heyward and Baker were sentenced on 1 May at Winchester Crown Court. Baker received three years and ten months in jail and Heyward two-and-a-half years in prison.

Four other defendants were sentenced at the same court:

*Timothy Neil Paterson (aged 56 of Derby): four years in jail

*Richard King (aged 51 of Lutterworth): two years and five months in prison

*Angela Baker (aged 53 of Beal, Goole): suspended sentence of 13 months

*Andrew Mark Blunsdon (aged 57 of Winscombe): suspended sentence of 12 months

Tim Burton from the Crown Prosecution Service commented: “This is a case of serious corruption and fraud within the energy sector, where the defendants abused their positions of trust and undermined the integrity of the industry.”

Burton continued: “In their roles, Baker and Heyward were expected to perform their functions impartially and in the best interests of the companies involved. In reality, they were acting for personal gain and behaving in a completely dishonest way.”

In conclusion, Burton noted: “We’re determined to work with investigators to root out corporate fraud and corruption and bring those responsible to justice. We will also seek to pursue any money or assets gained through this form of criminality by making use of our Proceeds of Crime Division.”