Leeds Crown Court heard how 41 year old Richard Crawford stole the money to fund expensive alcohol and cocaine addictions, which he developed after the break up of his marriage in 2008.
Although he earned £65,000 a year, he managed to steal £173,372 in only seven months by using his customers’ details to arrange loans in their names. He would then transfer the money to separate bank accounts, which belonged to various accomplices.
Mr Crawford had 10 accomplices, who agreed to withdraw the money from their accounts and return it to the banker, in exchange for a small payment. Eight of them appeared in court, charged with money laundering, as well as conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property.
Their sentences ranged from two years in prison to 32 weeks.
Admitting fraud and possession of articles in the use of fraud, Mr Crawford also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property.
The banker, who had worked at First Direct for 20 years, was fired last year.
Sentencing him, Judge Peter Collier said: “You had complete access to the whole security system and the necessary involvement to be able to make the money transfers…It was an outrageous abuse of trust by you.”
A First Direct spokeswoman added: “We take the security of our customers' money very seriously and we have been working very closely with the police to bring about this successful prosecution.”
According to the prosecution, First Direct lost a total of £109,497 as not all the money stolen by Mr Crawford was recovered.
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