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A dodgy lettings agent stole over £128,000 which ought to have gone to landlord shoppers – and with it she funded an affair along with her private coach.
Joanne Barker ran the Rochdale-based Barton Kendall company along with her husband Paul and different administrators.
The Each day Mail studies that from 2014 to 2018 Barker diverted cash from the agency’s consumer account into her personal private checking account. She used it, amongst different issues, to make rental funds to a fictitious landlord and pay for a £3,640 central heating system at her marital house.
She additionally used the checking account of her lover to deposit £8,586 price of stolen money, and allowed him to dwell rent-free for six months in one of many properties the agency managed. Neither Paul Barker, the company’s different administrators, or Barker’s lover have been conscious of any wrongdoing.
Landlords weren’t receiving lease funds
At a latest court docket case it was revealed that in 2018 various landlords started to complain they weren’t receiving lease funds except they continued with inquiries about overdue cash.
Ian Tweedley, a director of the company, is quoted as telling the court docket: “[My wife] Jo and I labored tirelessly to construct up and keep the enterprise in actually troublesome instances and we grew to become one of many main lettings companies within the space with a longstanding popularity. I assumed life was rosy, I assumed we have been financially safe albeit not wealthy, the mortgage was almost paid off and I used to be gearing as much as retire at 60.
“After we took on Joanne, she grew to become a trusted household good friend and I felt assured she would run the enterprise in my absence. However all that got here crashing down after I came upon she was siphoning off shoppers’ cash from the enterprise and stealing all of the tenants deposits. That day was the worst of my life. I used to be within the workplace at 3am as I couldn’t sleep and my coronary heart sunk as I realised my enterprise was in tatters.
“That very same morning my sister rang me to say my nephew had been concerned a in tragic accident and misplaced his life. I used to be numb, I hit all-time low and we have been actually at a horrendous level in our lives. What adopted was two years of stress, panic and exhaustion to the purpose of almost having a breakdown. I used to be decided to save lots of the enterprise however with such restricted funds I used to be very involved we’d must fold the corporate as I didn’t see a means out.
“I realised this is able to have an effect on our workers who had been conned and our many landlords who’ve been our shoppers for a few years. I felt humiliated and embarrassed. The considered ending of my life didn’t happen to me however I used to be as low and determined as I’ve ever been. [My wife] Jo and I ploughed all our financial savings into the enterprise. I bought my beloved automotive to repay the landlords and obtained a £50,000 enterprise mortgage to repay contractors. It was nearly catastrophic.
“We misplaced some large landlords, over 50 managed properties, over £50,000 a yr. Our insurance coverage premiums went up from £1,600 a yr to £20,000. Our standing as one of many main property brokers within the city has dropped and our popularity has been severely tarnished.”
Dodgy Lettings Agent sentenced
Joanne Barker pleaded responsible to fraud by false illustration however insisted she had stolen solely £28,868. Nonetheless, forensic accountants mentioned the overall quantity lacking from the agency was £128,868.
Dodgy Lettings agent Barker has been sentenced to 2 years jail suspended for 2 years after claiming she was now residing off state advantages in a flat in Salford and was wanted to look after her aged mom.
You possibly can see the total Mail story right here.
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