Man in court on bank transfer fraud charges

A MAN from Hallatrow near Bristol appeared in court facing several fraud charges.

Michael Kennedy Black, 55, of Paulton Road, appeared before Bristol magistrates on October 20.

The court heard he is accused of making unauthorised bank transfers from bank accounts belonging to UK Bathroom Village, UK Property Village and Click-On Bathrooms while he was financial director between January 10, 2010 and October 1, 2016.

The court also heard he was financial controller of the Centre for Dentistry and it is alleged that he made 29 unauthorised bank transfers to personal bank accounts between February 28, 2017 and June 8, 2017. Black is also charged with making 31 unauthorised bank transfers to personal bank accounts between July 17, 2017 and September 6, 2018, when he was financial director of Derwent Flooring Ltd.

A fourth charge alleges that he made a false representation to Birmingham Midshires Building Society, stating he earned an annual salary of £122,500 with a bonus of £20,872. A fifth charge alleges he made a false representation to Halifax Bank of Scotland, saying he earned an annual salary of £137,000.

A sixth allegation is that he made 19 unauthorised bank transfers when he was head of finance at Crosstown Concerts Ltd at Park Sent, in Bristol. They were allegedly valued at £20,635.07. A seventh charge alleges that between November 25 last year and June 5 he made 23 unauthorised bank transfers from Crosstown Concerts Ltd.

Black elected trial by jury and the matter was sent to Bristol Crown Court for a hearing on November 20.