A solicitor has been formally acquitted today (Tue

A solicitor has been formally acquitted today (Tue) on a
Judge’s direction of any involvement in a complex pnds stlg 500,000
mortgage fraud.

Conveyencing expert Edward Kendrick, 31, who at one stage worked
for the ‘Hamways’ firm in Oxted, Surrey, had allegedly been drawn into
a ‘web of deception’ by conman Robert Atkins, 52.

A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court had heard that Atkins
convincingly played the part of a rich businessman – even throwing
expensive lunches at Ascot – and was able to set up a firm in which
former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe was a director.

But Atkins companies were a ‘front’ for an enormous fraud on
high street building societies, the court was told.

Earlier this year Atkins, of South Road, Hanworth, Middlesex,
pleaded guilty to three charges of procurring the execution of a
valuable security and three of attempted criminal deception.

He is expected to be sentenced on March 29.

Mr John Hillen, prosecuting, ahd alleged that Kendrick had
helped Atkins’ false mortgage applications to go through after he
was offered ‘glittering prizes.

‘
But after hearing submissions from defence counsel for
Kendrick, Mr Walter Aylen, QC, at the end of the prosecution case,
Judge Peter Jackson directed the jury to find him not guilty of
two charges of procurring the execution of a valuable security.

Judge Jackson said that ‘as a matter of law’ the prosecution had
‘failed’ to prove those charges.

The Crown offered no evidence against Kendrick, of Hurst Green
Road, Oxted, Surrey, in respect of another charge of procurring the
execution of a valuable security.

He had denied every charge he faced.

Also cleared of any involvement in the dishonesty was Albert
Baron, 45, of Alveston Avenue, Harrow, said to have been the property
‘valuer’ for Atkins and former barman Steven Sussams, 39, of Cavendish
Road, Balham.

Judge Jackson directed the jury to acquit both Baron and Sussams
of two charges of procurring the execution of a valuable security and
four of attempted criminal deception.

Baron and Sussams – who had each allegedly been ‘recruited’ to
work for Atkins – had denied those charges.

Mr Philip King, defending Baron, and Mr Barnaby Waylen, for
Sussams, had both argued that there was insufficient evidence for the
Crown to continue the case against them.

Judge Jackson told the jury that it was the end of the case if
every ‘nut and bolt’ was not proved by the prosecution.

Last month the judge had directed the jury to acquit Kendrick of
four further charges of procuring the execution of a valuable security
and one of attempted criminal deception due to insufficient evidence.

ends