An estate agent stole thousands of pounds from clients in a bid to prop up his failing business.

Hartleys Estate Agents, on the High Road in Beeston, Notts, was run by Tim Catherall as a sales and letting management business.

In 2018 the company hit the buffers and Catherall closed it, going bankrupt in the process.

At that point tenants and landlords realised that deposit monies had been used by Catherall to prop up the business.

An investigation by Nottinghamshire Police’s fraud team discovered that seventeen landlords had lost twenty-seven rent deposits, which totalled £26,475, the amounts varying between £550 to £7,555.

Catherall, of Carolgate in Retford, was interviewed and admitted he had not paid the money into a deposit scheme but had kept it for the business. He was charged and pleaded guilty to dishonestly making false representation to make a gain.

Last week at Nottingham Crown Court he was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years,  and  must also complete 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Detective Constable Chris Underwood, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Catherall stole from his clients and tried to justify to himself that he was doing it for the good of the business which he has now lost. He has also lost a tremendous amount of pride and now has been left with a criminal record.

“His actions cost dozens of people hundreds of pounds and caused a huge amount of stress and worry.

“We take these incidents seriously and hope the victims can find some comfort in knowing that Catherall has been held to account for his crimes.”