The former head of digital banking fraud and security at state-backed Lloyds Banking Group has been charged with defrauding her employer by submitting close to £2.5 million worth of false expense claims.

In a statement the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised London’s Metropolitan Police to charge Jessica Harper with one count of fraud by abuse of position.

The prosecution service said the charge related to an allegation that Ms Harper submitted false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,751 to which she was not entitled between September 2008 and December 2011. She will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court in London on May 31st.

Lloyds, which is 40 per cent owned by the UK taxpayer, declined to comment.