'Jewel spree' of City PA
Some of the "astonishing" spending sprees enjoyed by a top City PA accused of stealing nearly £4.5 million from a succession of leading bankers were spelt out today.
Jurors trying Joyti De-Laurey, 34, heard that within just one six-month period she squandered more than £72,000 during no fewer than a dozen trips to Cartier jewellers.
One visit alone accounted for nearly £18,000 of that, London's Southwark Crown Court was told.
But Stuart Trimmer, prosecuting, who was using a series of money movement graphics to help detail part of her two-year alleged betrayal of trust, claimed her apparent love of jewellery did not stop there.
During July and December 2001, visits to five other jewellers swallowed a further £7,614.
The barrister said that during that time the mother of one also splashed out further fortunes on new cars for relatives, a string of hotel bills, and properties both in Britain and Cyprus, where she allegedly hoped to start a new life with her ill-gotten gains.
De-Laurey, of North Cheam, Surrey, denies a total of 21 counts between June 27 2000 and April 26 2002.
Fourteen allege she obtained money transfers by deception, up to £2.5 million at a time, while the remainder claim she used "false instruments" in the form of cheques.
Her husband Anthony, a 50-year-old former chauffeur, and her general practitioner mother, Dr Devi Schahhou, 67, each plead not guilty to allegations that they helped to launder some of the money.
