Convicted and jailed fraudster Andre Peter Montaut has been served with a Prohibition Order which prevents him from ever working in estate agency.

Prohibition and warning orders are valid indefinitely unless varied or revoked.

A high profile case last year showed that Montaut stole deposit monies to prop up his failing business.

At sentencing in  August 2019, the Judge told Montaut: “You have previous good character, and have lived a positive life up until the time of these offences.”

“You maintained your conduct was not dishonest. However at the first possible instance under police interview, you admitted your guilt.”

The Judge went on: “This was a sophisticated fraud. You hoodwinked the staff at the My Deposits scheme, and produced and signed false bank statements. You were doing this for personal gain, in that the money was used to prop up the company you were working for.

“You thought nobody would lose out, but as you know, in business things can change quickly, and a lot can go wrong in 18 months.

“I am therefore sentencing you to 25 months in prison, which cannot be suspended. I am further barring you from holding a directorial role in any company for five years.”

Montaut worked at Barrington Property, in Buckinghamshire and was at one stage a Winkworth franchisee, and also worked for Chancellors.

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