Letting agent bosses sent to Crown Court on fraud charges

Two bosses of a lettings agency have been sent by magistrates to Crown Court to answer fraud charges.

Keith Ranson, 40, and Melanie Cairns, 52, former directors of R House, Plymouth, are jointly accused of fraud by abuse of position.

Ranson indicated ‘no plea’ to a charge of committing fraud as a director of a letting agency by dishonestly abusing that position intending to make a gain or expose clients to the risk of loss.

Cairns denied the same joint matter, alleged to have happened between August 2007 and May 2010.

The Crown Prosecution Service told a previous hearing that the pair failed to set up a protected account to safeguard the deposits of clients.

Magistrates bailed Cairns, of Torpoint, and Ranson, formerly from the area but now of Burgh Le Marsh near Skegness in Lincolnshire, on unconditional bail until the Crown Court hearing on November 5.

Separately, two bosses of another Plymouth agent are awaiting trial at Crown Court on October 15.

Toni Burridge, 40, Jacqueline Burridge, 41, and their daughter Kayleigh, 19, who ran Hothomes UK, have made previous appearances at Plymouth Magistrates Court on charges relating to tenancy deposits. All have indicated ‘no plea’ to a joint charge of fraud by false representation between October 31, 2010 and July 1, 2011.

Toni and Kayleigh Burridge will appear at Crown Court, while Jacqueline Burridge’s case was adjourned for legal aid to be organised. All three are on unconditional bail

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