Letting agent admits to fraud over client money

A former lettings agent boss has admitted to fraud in relation to client money.

Brandon Weston, 41, admitted four counts of fraud at Worcester Crown Court alongside co-defendant Chris Williams, 46.

Weston, who was managing director of Premier Places (Redditch Letting) Ltd at Church Green, Redditch, and Premier Places (Letting) Ltd in Worcester, admitted two counts of committing fraud between January 2007 and February 2009 to make a gain for himself, making representations to the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) which he knew to be untrue or misleading.

He also admitted two counts from April and July 2007 of intending to make a gain for himself by making a representation to The Dispute Service which he knew was, or might be, untrue, namely that Premier Places held tenancy deposits in a ring-fenced client account. Sentencing has been deferred.

Both Weston and Williams denied two counts of conspiracy to defraud the Dispute Service and NALS between September 2006 and March 2009 over clients’ deposits.
 
Williams also denied six further charges under Section 2 of the Fraud Act in relation to NALS between January 2007 and February 2009.

Both men were granted unconditional bail. Williams will face a trial at Hereford Crown Court on July 18, 2011.

Weston sold Premier Places earlier this year to the firm’s accountants and Williams is no longer a director of the company.

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