Saleswoman who faked doctor's note and evidence of sex assaults jailed

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

Louise Gallagher, 50, from Marlborough, Wiltshire, was sentenced to four years and eight months at Wood Green Crown Court after admitting three counts of perverting the course of justice. She doctored a TfL email to fabricate CCTV evidence of a sexual assault, invented a fictional witness, and submitted a fake GP sick note claiming two years of cancer treatment — all to prop up failing employment tribunal claims against distribution giant Bunzl and health supplier Essity. Judge Timothy Godfrey called it 'a prolonged, blatant, and egregious course of conduct, liable to undermine public justice.' The Crown Prosecution Service dropped further charges alleging Gallagher invented the underlying assault allegations themselves.

Bunzl alone spent almost £70,000 defending itself against Gallagher's fabricated claims.

Gallagher went as far as creating a fake email account and activating a phone to impersonate her invented witness to police, leading to an innocent man being questioned under caution.

She already had prior convictions — including stealing £4,500 from employers in 2015 and, in 2014, purchasing equestrian equipment with bank details taken from a woman's handbag without her knowledge.