An estate agent long regarded as a trusted pillar of his community is facing almost certain jail after pleading guilty to fraud charges which involved misappropriating funds over a period of five years.
Roger Darnton, 53, was so trusted by local residents that he was the executor of a will in one case, and in another had power of attorney.
Last week he admitted to two counts of fraud, abusing his position in both cases.
Appearing at Teeside Crown Court, Darnton said: “Guilty, your Honour.”
The sum involved is said to be almost £110,000 but Judge Howard Crowson called for clarity about the level of loss.
The Judge told him that specific figures as to the loss will help assess the length of the sentence.
He told Darnton: “You of course realise that this level of fraud usually means – and I can’t see why it should not in this case – a prison sentence.
“We must on that day assess the length of it.”
Darnton stepped down from the dock, saying “Thank you, your Honour”.
Darnton appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last month charged with fraud abusing his position as estate executor to gain £105,168, and abusing his position as power of attorney to gain £4,487.
Darnton, of Guiseborough, Cleveland, has been bailed until his next court appearance on May 10 when he will be sentenced.
Darnton ran his own agency in the town from 2001 until last October, when he said he would be retiring.
Altogether, he was a local estate agent for 35 years.
Darnton received civic recognition for his voluntary work in the town and in 2004 was named citizen of the year. He went on to be nominated for other awards.
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/former-guisborough-estate-agent-roger-15937959
Fraud is Fraud. No excuses.
Do the crime, serve the time.
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I agree with what you say, GPL. I’m a copper’s son.
And I’ve got his nose for wrong ‘uns.
BUT I simply don’t ‘get’ this one.
Neither, I suggest, will anyone else who knows… or thought they knew… Roger Darnton.
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I don’t get this one either but it might just be because I’m the same age as this guy and have been working the same number of years in both estate agency and financial services. You have to trust people in life and usually that trust is very much earned. Makes you wonder why he did it if he was comfortably off…
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