Edinburgh crime: Jailed office manager ordered to pay back £211,000 from proceeds of crime

Emma Hunt, 38, who was imprisoned for three years in August last year after a jury found her guilty of fraud and embezzlement, was made subject of a confiscation order at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. 

The order shows Hunt, of Coldstream, is estimated to have benefited from criminal conduct by £925,000 and an order has been made for £211,574,67 to be paid back. 

The figure is based on an amount which the court deems as being available. The Crown has the power to extend the order to seize money and assets Hunt acquires in the future to pay back the full amount she made from her crimes. 

The court’s assessment of the “available amount” acknowledges that Hunt made tainted gifts valued at £199,733.31 to a family member. 

During her trial, the court heard Hunt spent thousands on parties, hospitality at sporting events, hotel stays, a five-star Caribbean holiday, cars, and designer goods after stealing money from McLean Properties and fraudulently obtaining money from some of its clients.  

Emma Hunt, 38, who was imprisoned for three years in August last year after a jury found her guilty of fraud and embezzlement, was subject of a confiscation order at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. | Alexander Lawrie

She carried out her scheme by transferring rental payments from tenants into her own bank accounts and obtained deposits from tenants which were not required.  

She also regularly created false invoices totalling large sums for “supplies” and “business expenses” which were again paid into her personal accounts.  

Hunt’s illicit scheme was discovered after concerns emerged over company accounting activity.  

Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for serious casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This confiscation underscores the fact that prosecution of those involved in financial crime does not stop at criminal conviction and sentencing. 

“Even after that conviction was secured, the Crown pursued Proceeds of Crime action to ensure the funds Emma Hunt obtained illegally were confiscated. 

“Confiscation orders have ongoing financial consequences, meaning we can seek to recover further assets from this individual in the future to ensure she pays back the full amount.”