An ex-estate agent is now due to be sentenced this summer after pleading guilty to two charges of fraud.
Roger Darnton, 53, ran his own agency in Guiseborough, Cleveland, until last October, and had been named citizen of the year in recognition of his voluntary work.
In March he admitted fraud charges which involved misappropriating funds over a five-year period.
He was the executor of a will in one case, and in the other had power of attorney.
The sum was said to be almost £110,000, but the judge called for clarity over the exact amounts, saying it would affect the length of the sentence.
Darnton was due to be sentenced last Friday, but the hearing was taken off the court list and moved to July 5.
According to the local paper, lawyers still have to make clear how much money was actually involved.
Comments (1)
Further to my previous comment on this.
I doubt anyone who ever worked with Roger Darnton – nor, I believe, anyone who ever came into contact with him – can believe that he would be capable of this.
I worked ‘with’ Roger during the 90s, and spoke to him infrequently afterward.
Although it has been best part of ten years since we last met, I am utterly at a loss as to what could have possibly caused such a sea-change in his personality and moral standing.
It’s one of those things that you would never in a million years expect to hear… and would dismiss as rubbish in a heartbeat.
There is little or no background to this, which is highly unusual. Maybe one day the whole story will come out.