By admin 
A soldier involved in a £1million fraud was given a job when he applied for government grants after his army scam was exposed, a court heard.
Cpl Aaron Stelmach-Purdie, 33, was hired by British firm Grantify, where he wowed civilian bosses with his talent for obtaining public money.
The former payroll clerk had been charged with fraud and money laundering worth £911,608 at the time but had not yet been convicted.
Lawyer Jonathan Rose told the court: “There is no indication that Grantify is anything other than a legitimate company and that they are impressed by Mr Stelmach Purdie.
“He seems particularly adept at getting money, which is somewhat ironic.”
Stelmach-Purdie, op Oldhammade hundreds of false claims for flights, food and allowances while stationed at Regents Park Barracks, a secret counter-terrorism base in London.
He bought luxury watches, Louboutin shoesa “Pimp my Ride” Range Rover Overfinch and plastic surgery in Turkey, including six-pack implants, teeth whitening and hair transplants, jurors at Southwark Crown Court were told.
Five former comrades have admitted their part in the fraud between December 2014 and January 2016.
They include Sergeant Alan O’Neil, 47, from Droitwich, Worcs, Sergeant Peter Wilson, 55, from Kidderminster, Wilts, movement secretary Ant Sharwood, 38, from Bromsgrove, Worcs, and Lauren O’Brien, 37, from Larkhill, Wilts. .
They have all now left the armed forces.
A serving soldier who cannot be named also pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering.
Two former soldiers, LSgt Lee Richards, 41, and LCpl Amy Sheldon, 37, deny conspiracy to commit fraud and transfer criminal property.
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They are currently on trial against citizen Simon Lees, 31, from Oldham, who denies laundering more than £270,000 through his bank accounts within six months.
Stelmach-Purdie revealed his Grantify role when he changed his plea to guilty and asked the court to relax his bail conditions for the ankle monitor.
Mr Rose told the jury: “He has a tag on him. He has a curfew.
“He asked permission to release that tag because he had some work at a company that does some work in the US and he wanted to be at the offices in England late at night, so he was on US time.”
Grantify says it has helped companies “secure tens of millions in government grants”, the court was told.
The process continues.
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Cpl Aaron Stelmach-Purdie, right, was hired by British firm Grantify, where he wowed civilian bosses with his talent for obtaining public money