Tudor Dumitru, 35, director of SSC Secure Transport Limited, pleaded guilty to a single charge of bribery and will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on 10 September 2025.

Between July 2021 and April 2022 payments of £73,000 were made by Dumitru in return for the award of NHS contracts to transport patients on behalf of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Ben Harrison, head of operations at NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: ‘This outcome demonstrates that we have a strong approach and a dedicated team who protect vital resources and ensure that anyone who attempts to defraud the NHS is brought to justice.

‘The offering or accepting of bribes to influence the awarding of NHS contracts is a criminal offence that undermines fair competition. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority does not tolerate any form of fraudulent or corrupt practices.

‘We encourage anyone with suspicions of fraud against the NHS to report it through our confidential reporting channels.'

Another man facing charges, who was transport manager at UCLH, was found dead the day after he was due to appear before magistrates in north London on 16 May 2025.

A UCLH spokesperson said: ‘This case has had devastating consequences for our member of staff and their family. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

‘We co-operated fully with police and counter-fraud teams throughout the investigation. At the same time we also followed due process and protected the confidentiality of our member of staff as we were bound to do.'