Ex-Lloyds security chief accused of fraud The former head of fraud and security for digital banking at Lloyds Banking Group, which is 40 per cent-owned by the taxpayer, faces a criminal charge for allegedly claiming nearly 2.5m in expenses dishonestly. Jessica Harper faces one charge of fraud by abusing her position, relating to alleged wrongdoing between September 2008 and December 2011, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday. "Jessica Harper dishonestly and with the intention of making a gain for herself, abused her position as an employee of Lloyds Banking Group, in which she was expected to safeguard the financial interests of Lloyds Banking Group, by submitting false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,750.88, to which she was not entitled," said Andrew Penhale, deputy head of the CPS's central fraud group . False expenses became a flashpoint in 2009 when a scandal exposed fiddling of claims on a grand scale by scores of MPs in Westminster. The issue was further heightened in 2011 by the case of Christopher Grierson, a top litigator in London who will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to four charges of falsifying travel expenses to the tune of £1.2m over four years. Ms Harper's solicitor could not immediately be reached for comment and the bank did not immediately respond to requests to comment. She faces a magistrates" court hearing in London on May 31.