An estate agent who ‘fraudulently’ took a deposit from a client and then threatened his former boss has been spared jail and handed a community order, it has been reported.

Brighton and Hove News reveals that Danny Wood, 47, Wood, of Mill Street, Falmer, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court after previously pleading guilty to fraud and sending a threat at his first court hearing.

The court heard that Wood had told home seller Michael Dove he had to pay a £750 deposit when putting his house on the market and took him outside the office to collect the cash.

When Dove later called to take his property off the market and reclaim his deposit, he discovered Wood had left the company and was in Australia.

You are lucky I’m here and not there because I would be down there putting your head through a wall.”

Shaun Adams, Managing Director of Cooper Adams estate agency, reimbursed the client but when he confronted Wood over the issue, he received a series of threatening messages, with Wood claiming the agency owed him money. In one email he reportedly wrote: “Shaun, you are lucky I’m here and not there because I would be down there putting your head through a wall.”

On his return from Australia, Wood was arrested in Peacehaven under the name Danny Callaghan.

Keys missing

In a victim impact statement, Dove explained: “When I attended the office and found that my house keys were missing and it also seemed that Danny Wood had been visiting my house despite no viewings being booked, I became really concerned.”

Although the locks were later changed at the estate agency’s expense, Dove said the incident left both his wife and him feeling ‘vulnerable.’

Wood’s defence blamed a ‘horrible marital breakdown’ for his actions and claimed he was owed wages by his former employer in ‘a completely separate ongoing dispute.’

He was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also fined £346 and ordered to pay a court surcharge of £114, court costs of £85, and £750 compensation to Mr Adams.

Wood is reportedly still working as an estate agent.