A Norfolk estate agent has appeared in court accused of £50,000 fraud, it has been revealed.

A report in The Eastern Daily Press told how the agent – 51-year-old Victoria Steele – faces 19 charges of fraud by false representation relating to her running of Swaffham-based eHomes (main image).

It reported that the alleged offending spans November 2011 to June 2018.

Payments withheld

During this time, Steele was the company’s sole director and shareholder.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard that the charges centre on claims that landlord rental payments were withheld and that tenant deposits were not secured within a Government-approved deposit protection scheme.

The case came to light after up to 40 complainants – including a landlord undergoing cancer treatment and a Methodist church – contacted Norfolk Police and national fraud reporting service Action Fraud.

Individual losses among complainants are said to range from £690 to more than £4,100.

Significant number of complainants.”

Prosecutor Katherine Newsom is reported as having described a “significant number of complainants” and characterised the evidence as extensive and financially complex.

She said all the charges related to when Steele was the owner/operator of the estate agent and letting business eHomes, which had been formerly known as Prestige Properties Limited.

Steele is said to have entered no pleas.

Scheduled hearing

The Eastern Daily Press went on to report that magistrates ruled the case exceeded their sentencing powers and committed it to Norwich Crown Court, where a plea and trial preparation hearing has been scheduled for 19th June.

It is reported that Steele was released on unconditional bail.

eHomes closed its Swaffham premises in 2018 and was formally dissolved via Companies House in April 2019.

The Eastern Daily Press claims that the total amount alleged to have been defrauded is £47,685, and that the court was told the sentencing starting point if found guilty is 18 months in prison.