Fraudster who stole from Northampton estate agent branch jailed after head office finds 'serious financial irregularities'

The Enfields office in Mercer's Row, Northampton, was closed overnight in August 2015.

Pete Bell, 36, from London, was sentenced in Northampton Crown Court on Monday (May 22) after being charged with 11 counts of theft and four counts of fraud.

He was the director of the Enfields estate agents office in Mercers Row, Northampton, which was closed overnight by Enfields head office after the company became aware of 'serious financial irregularities' in August 2015.

Enfields reported their findings to the police and Bell was subsequently arrested.

Bell was sentenced in Northampton Crown Court.

Speaking in 2015, Director of Enfields Colin Wilton-Smith said:

“As soon as we were sure there was a problem, we informed the police and trading standards.

“The Northampton branch was not run by us but we are now sorting out the mess left behind."

A letter sent out by Enfields head office to landlords in 2015 said it had terminated the franchise and apologised for any inconvenience and distress caused.

Bell was sentenced to 26 months in prison by His Honour Judge Timothy Smith.