Well-known property figure turned fraudster jailed for four years
Adam Kirkbride was once an industry big hitter but despite an earlier director banning order, used his position as a director of three firms to take £60,000 off a pensioner deceitfully.
A well-known property figure has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to a raft of crimes including fraud.
32-year-old Adam Kirkbride of Cobble End, Bassenthwaite in Keswick admitted fraud at Newcastle Crown Court after siphoning off £60,000 entrusted with him by a pensioner to invest in one of his firm’s forthcoming developments.
Instead of safeguarding the cash, he used it to pay bills and repay loans. Kirkbride took the money dishonestly even though he had already been disqualified from being a director in 2012 after being given a bankruptcy order.
He admitted abusing his position while acting in the management of a company, which he used to handle the cash after persuading the pensioner to give him the money to invest in a yet-to-be built development.
The investor involved had to work for several years longer than they had planned and retire on a smaller income. Kirkbride told him that the money would be returned if the development did not go ahead.
He was managing three companies at the time, something he was prohibited from doing as he had been declared bankrupt.
One of them, Kirkbride Homes, was promoted as having ambitions to become a ‘national’ development company.
Kirkbride and his property companies are well known in the North West and his fall has been dramatic – ten years ago one of his companies sponsored a well-known industry rugby tournament alongside several big-name property agents and law firms.
Deceit
The offences committed by Kirkbride involved deceit, dishonesty, and deliberate concealment of his status as someone prohibited from acting in the management of a company.
Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “The offences committed by Adam Kirkbride involved deceit, dishonesty, and deliberate concealment of his status as someone prohibited from acting in the management of a company.
“Kirkbride was motivated purely by personal gain and his fraudulent behaviour involved the abuse of power, trust and responsibility.
“His actions caused serious financial losses and he now has the chance to reflect on his criminal behaviour from behind bars.”
Read more about property industry bankruptcy orders.
