A former estate agent has appeared in court charged with fraud by abuse of position.

Roger Darnton, 53, faced two charges at Teesside Magistrates Court.

Between April 2012 and November 2016, he allegedly committed fraud while acting as a lasting power of attorney for Sybil Littlefair, to gain £4,487.

The second charge alleges that between November 2012 and January 2017, he abused his position as the executor of the estate of R. L. Ramshaw to gain £105,168.

Darnton entered no plea and was remanded on unconditional bail until March 11 to appear at Teesside Crown Court.

Darnton was an estate agent in Guisborough, Cleveland, for 35 years.

A notice on Roger Darnton Estate Agents website says that he would be retiring, and no longer trading, from last October 31. He founded the firm in 2001.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/former-guisborough-estate-agent-roger-15814236