Nursery operator admits £92k fraud against Brent Council
Pauline El-Amrati claimed funding for non-attending children at The Gladstone Nursery LTD in Cricklewood.
Incident → evidence → outcomePauline El-Amrati, who previously ran The Gladstone Nursery LTD in Cricklewood, has pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges. She admitted to claiming more than £92,000 in funding for children who were not attending the nursery. The nursery ceased trading abruptly, leaving families without childcare.
Investigation into attendance figures
Brent Council's Early Years Team initiated an investigation in October 2022 after noticing unusually high attendance figures submitted by the nursery to support its funding claims. Scrutiny of the figures, supported by information from a staff member, indicated that funding was being claimed for children who were not present. The fraudulent claims resulted in a loss of £92,303.64 of taxpayers' money.
Court sentencing and consequences
The investigation, involving Brent Council's Counter Fraud and Investigations Team, financial investigators, the Early Years Funding team, legal services, the Shared Technology Service, and the Metropolitan Police, uncovered evidence of deliberately inflated figures. El-Amrati pleaded guilty on 6 July 2026 to fraud by false representation and two money laundering offences, related to transfers of £29,000 and £20,000 to family members. The court described the offending as a 'serious breach of trust' impacting families and public funds.
At sentencing, El-Amrati received a 31-month prison sentence for each offence, to be served concurrently and suspended for two years. The judge noted that a custodial sentence was narrowly avoided due to significant personal mitigation. El-Amrati is required to complete a Rehabilitation Activity requirement within 12 months.
“This case involved a significant fraud against the public purse and a serious breach of trust that affected both the council and families who depended on this nursery.”
Councillor Gwen Grahl, Deputy Leader of Brent Council and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, stated that parents expect childcare funding to support local children and families, not be abused for personal gain. She thanked the officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, adding that Brent Council will continue to take action against those who defraud public services.
Questions this report answers
01What fraud did Pauline El-Amrati admit to?
Pauline El-Amrati admitted to fraud and money laundering by claiming over £92,000 in public funding for children who were not attending The Gladstone Nursery LTD in Cricklewood. She also transferred significant sums to family members.
02How much public money was lost due to the fraud?
The fraudulent funding claims made by Pauline El-Amrati resulted in a total loss of £92,303.64 of taxpayers' money. This funding was intended for childcare but was claimed for children who did not attend the nursery.
03What was the sentence for Pauline El-Amrati?
Pauline El-Amrati was sentenced to 31 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, for fraud and money laundering offences. She must also complete a Rehabilitation Activity requirement within 12 months.
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