Company Director Accused of Publishing Fraud Walks Free
Frances Murray of Kangs Solicitors reports on a recently concluded prosecution brought by Trading Standards East Midlands in respect of a nationwide advertising fraud.
The Trading Standards Case | Kangs Fraud Solicitors
The prosecution’s case was that the alleged fraud was perpetrated through a group of 78 companies (‘the Wyvern Media Companies’) operating through 13 sales offices in the Midlands & South-West of England involving around 250 staff.
Kangs Solicitors were instructed on behalf of one of the defendants who was a Director of 12 of the Wyvern Media Companies and who was also responsible for the Slough office.
The prosecution asserted that all of the offices were operated as call centres, making unsolicited telephone calls to potential advertisers, relying on untrue claims and which falsified and grossly exaggerated circulation figures and distribution areas to achieve sales of advertising space.
The Negotiations | Solicitors for Trading Standards Advice
Our client was accused of participating in the scam which reached an annual turnover of £7m and defrauded hundreds of people.
Following lengthy and detailed negotiations with the Prosecution, our client pleaded guilty to Fraudulent Trading at Nottingham Crown Court earlier this year.
His Honour Judge Rafferty presided over the two day sentencing hearing that commenced on the 27th October 2016 which resulted in the lead defendant, who had been based at the company’s Head Office in Derby, being imprisoned for 6 years and immediate custodial sentences were also passed on those Directors who had headed the branch offices.
The Outcome | Kangs Solicitors Defending Trading Standards Cases
Despite the prosecution alleging that our client was in charge of the Slough branch and a director of 12 companies, as stated above, our negotiations with the prosecution and the mitigation presented on our client’s behalf, resulted in a suspended sentence.
Our client was absolutely delighted with the result.
Related Articles | Fraudulent Trading | Trading Standards Cases
https://www.kangssolicitors.co.uk/trading-standards-fraudulent-trading-and-regulatory-offences/
How we can help you | Trading Standards Solicitors
Offences of this nature require a legal team with specialist knowledge and extensive experience as they can often carry with them complex legal issues.
We appreciate that damage to reputation is a major concern for businesses when under investigation by Trading Standards. We look to advise our clients in fresh and innovative ways to ensure that the risk of any adverse publicity is carefully managed.
Who Can I Contact For Help? | Kangs Solicitors
If you are a business, whether a sole trader, partnership or company we are here to assist you manage your contact with any of the numerous Trading Standards departments in England and Wales.
Our team of solicitors has a proven track record of assisting many businesses achieve the right result following a Trading Standards investigation.
We are here to help and happy to talk to you and discuss how we can help you and your business.
Our expert team of Trading Standards Solicitors can be contacted through the following:
Hamraj Kang
hkang@kangssolicitors.co.uk
07976 258171 | 020 7936 6396 | 0121 449 9888
John Veale
jveale@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 07779 055907
