Preston lettings agent admits diverting clients’ cash into his own bank account

Over seven months Paul Philipps-Young, fraudulently diverted a total of £23,315 that was destined for accounts belonging to estate agents Reeds Rains into own bank account.

The hustle, in 2015 into 2016, was discovered when the company was alerted to suspicious activity, and he was later dismissed.

But it took three years for him to be interviewed about it and charged.

The 40-year-old defendant, of Kittlingbourne Brow, Higher Walton, Preston, was employed by Reeds Rains as a lettings negotiator.

He pleaded guilty to fraud.

Preston Crown Court was told his scam involved around seven properties in the Preston area.

After hearing he was tackling his gambling addiction, Judge David Potter imposed a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to do 100 hours unpaid work.

He must pay £5,400 compensation.

Judge Potter said: “You intended to pay the money back over time and made some payments but the addiction became overpowering and you ended up causing a loss to your employer of £14K.”

He acknowledged Philipps-Young had lost his employment and his relationship had broken down, and criticised the “inexcusable delay” in the case.

It is the second time in the last fortnight that a judge has raised concerns over the length of time a case has taken to get to court.

Judge Philip Parry questioned why it took police over two years to investigate a drug dealer caught peddling cannabis on a Lancaster University campus, at a time he was still on a prison licence.