A lettings team manager in Wales has pleaded guilty to stealing £5,616 from her former employer.

Julie Murray, who at the time worked at Abergavenny-based single-branch estate agency Foy Williams, pleaded guilty during an appearance at Newport Magistrates Court, the South Wales Argus has reported.

The theft took place some four years ago on 5th May 2018 and, following her admission of guilt, sentencing is due to take place on 4th November.

A blog on the company’s website describes the 54-year-old as being in charge of its lettings team.

Lettings management

It had responsibility for property management, ensuring on behalf of the firm’s landlords key compliance functions including gas and electrical safety certificate renewals, maintenance, arrears chasing, eviction notice management, tenancy renewals and deposit disputes.

Foy Williams has been going for several decades and is one of the best-known independent sales and lettings agentcies in Abergavenny. The company gained some publicity when one of its sales negotiators made an appearance on Martin Robert’s TV show on BBC, Homes Under the Hammer, in 2019.

Funds being stolen from letting agents is a relatively rare crime even though often staff have access to bank accounts in order to pay deposits and receive and pass-on significant sums.

Murray’s stealing is relatively minor compared to Gemma Wall, who in February this year received a 30-year jail sentence for stealing £102,4384 from two employers including an estate agency.