After obtaining a lucrative position as a civil servant and providing a reference in the name of the well-known Assassin’s Creed video game heroine Layla Hassan, a fraudster allegedly stole $25,000 in pay.
During her spare time, 32-year-old Angelica Stoichkov worked as a policy and communications officer for the General Chiropractic Council and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
She was reportedly absent from work at the GCC owing to an eye condition, which she said prevented her from using computer displays, according to testimony at Southwark Crown Court.
Ms. Stoichkov was, however, exposed when her employers learned from her LinkedIn profile that she was employed by DEFRA.
When the Bulgarian was hired by the ministerial department in January 2021, she received a salary of more than £25,000.
DEFRA policy advisers may earn between £27,777 and £55,299 per year in compensation.
A further examination by DEFRA’s professional standards unit revealed that Stoichkov had given a reference in the form of Layla Hassan, a well-known character from the Assassin’s Creed video game series.
Asserting that the offense was “extremely serious,” the judge, Miss Recorder Maryam Syed, added, “I must select the best approach to adequately punish her and give a signal of deterrent to the public.”
As the court said, “You have now lost your former good character because you now have a conviction for an offence of dishonesty and fraud,” Stoichkov, who was dressed in a white suit, sobbed.
It will have an impact on your ability to obtain employment and further education. You are to blame for that, as you are aware.
“In my opinion, this is not an opportunistic move. It required some degree of planning.
There is a part of you that wants to fund specific things and that wants to achieve more and perform better in your work.
There was undoubtedly some element of self-interest in your actions.
I can tell you’re upset and that you find this to be quite upsetting.
“What you did was extremely wrong and dishonest. I impose a strict community order as a direct substitute for custody in order to address the public concern. Your punishment is a component of a criminal sentence.
You are a smart young woman, you are a young woman, and what you did was very serious.
But I’m offering you a chance to change your course. Go use your potential; you have it.
North London’s Islington resident Stoichkov guilty to fraud by false representation.
She was given a two-year community service order that required her to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as well as an additional 30 days of rehabilitation activity.
Additionally, Stoichkov is subject to a three-month electronic surveillance curfew at her home location from 10:30 pm to 8 am.
Since the GCC had already successfully resolved a civil action against her, no order for restitution or confiscation was made.