A rogue agent who inflated invoices has had ten months added to a jail sentence.

Gareth Griffith, who was earlier jailed for seven years for his part in an investment scam, defrauded customers during his time as a property manager at Martin & Co in Truro, Cornwall, between February and June 2017.

He committed the offences while on bail.

The local paper reports that Griffith had been due to appear at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of fraud. However, he failed to board the prison bus, meaning the case went ahead in his absence.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said that while at Martin & Co, Griffith had inflated invoices and creamed off money for his own personal gain.

Martin & Co said: “We are pleased that our company procedures and due diligence in uncovering his actions so quickly and subsequent immediate dismissal led to this conviction and sentencing.

“We wish to state that all of our affected clients have received full compensation through our client money protection scheme, which is a requirement for all regulated agents.”

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/property-manager-ripped-customers-inflating-3492307