An executive at a global accountancy firm stole her colleagues identities to fund a £76,000 shopping spree with her husband, a court has heard.

Sukhbir Mawkin, 49, and Anil Mawkin, 61, from Cheam, south London, used stolen credit card details to buy phones and clothing between May 2015 to April 2019.

Mrs Mawkin, who worked for the accountancy company Ernst & Young as an executive assistant, removed bank cards and driving licences from wallets belonging to colleagues.

Sukhbir Mawkin, 49, (left) and Anil Mawkin, 61, (right) from Cheam, south London, used stolen credit card details to buy phones and clothing between May 2015 to April 2019. Mr Mawkin was jailed for three years and four months at Inner London Crown Court while Mrs Mawkin was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to perform 300 hours community service

The couple then photographed the documents and used the stolen details to buy luxury items, Inner London Crown Court heard.

To distance themselves from the scam the pair made sure the goods were delivered to unsuspecting work-at-home secretaries.

Mr and Mrs Mawkin were both arrested and charged with fraud by false representation on October 25, 2017.

But after this, Mr Mawkin made a series of bogus applications to credit providers using names of EY employees in a bid to make it look like others were responsible.

He was subsequently arrested again for these offences and charged with fraud.

The fraud was spotted through intelligence work by officers from the DCPCU, who then worked closely with EY to bring the perpetrators to justice (pictured, Inner London Crown Court where they were sentenced)

Detective Constable Dave Hughes, who investigated the case, said: ‘This husband and wife wrongfully thought they could get away with funding their lifestyle by committing over £76,000 of fraud.

‘Sukhbir Mawkin abused her position to steal personal details from colleagues, which were then used to go on a shopping spree.

‘Fortunately, we were able to use advanced intelligence methods to detect these fraudsters, working closely with EY to bring them to justice.

‘This sentencing is a warning to those who believe they can benefit financially from fraud that they will be caught and punished.’

The married couple had pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation following a successful investigation by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, a specialist police unit funded by the banking and cards industry.

Mr Mawkin was jailed for three years and four months while Mrs Mawkin was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to perform 300 hours community service.