Estate agent and wife admit netting £100k through West Bromwich house-buying fraud
An estate agent and his wife who admitted a fraud that netted them almost £100,000 have been sentenced.
Former Connells West Bromwich branch partner Thomas Kelly and his wife Samantha bought repossessed houses at low prices, then waited several months before selling them on at much higher figures.
They were charged with fraud as estate agents are not allowed to have an interest in properties within their company's portfolio.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday they made £98,550 on the sale of three houses in West Bromwich. To hide their actions Mr Kelly forged colleagues' signatures on paperwork, and invoices were also forged.
Mr Kelly, 33, from Farm Road, Oldbury, admitted three frauds and two forgeries while wife Samantha, 29, of Birmingham Road, Hagley, admitted three frauds and one forgery.
As part of the same investigation it was revealed that Connells colleague Andrew Butts, 29, of Westmead Drive, Oldbury, had helped his sister and brother-in-law buy a separate repossessed property. He did not take part in any forgeries or profit personally from the fraud, but failed to disclose his relationship to the buyer. He also admitted one count of fraud.
Defending Mr Kelly, Benjamin Nicholls said no party lost out financially. Defending Mrs Kelly, Samantha Powis said: "The strain on this woman has been enormous."
Thomas Kelly was given a six month jail sentence suspended for 12 months for each charge, to run concurrently, an unpaid work order for 180 hours, and a six month supervision order.
Mrs Kelly was handed a community order for six months supervision. Butts was handed a conditional discharge to run for 12 months.
