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Financial Investigation Events Log
Case Number: 0809/0126
Gary Thomas - Astwood Bank / Julian Wilson
22/09/ 1. Suspects name: Julian Wilson cw
08 2. Suspects Position held: Subpostmaster
3. Enquiry type: Audit shortage
4. Loss: £27,811.28
5. Office: Astwood Bank
6. Branch Code: 346246
7. Address of Office: 1248 Evesham Road, Redditch, B96 6AD
8. Suspects Home address: {~ "GRO. H
9. Other details: — " ~ ~ " °
Brief summary
[Audit conducted at branch on 11th September 2008 and Postmaster
ladmitted to auditors they would find a shortage of around £27,000,
which was an accumulation of losses over the past 5 years or so. The
Postmaster Mr Wilson confirmed he had been inflating his cash figures
land false accounting at the end of each period to cover up the
shortfalls.
[Mr Wilson confirmed the brief summary of facts above to be correct and
that he had been false accounting for the last 5 years a selection of
[Branch Trading Statements were shown to Mr Wilson between April 2007
land August 2008 that he admitted to be false accounts with inflated
lcash figures shown. Mr Wilson stated he was not in a position to repay
lany monies at this time but has since informed me of his intention to
sell the Post Office to finance this money outstanding.
Case Raise & Offender reporting at Ref 1
02/107 I FES received (Ref 2) ow
og
S&I, Easy Access savi Mrs K L Wilson NS&I.i
Mr J Wilson NS&I 1 account number I
current balance £429.67cr - as of 13/11/08
>Lloyds, sort code! i, Copi
04/08/08 - £1,498.19cr Mr J & Mrs K. L. Wilson (Platinum A/C) as of es
12 £1,000.00. of
>Lloyds, sort code stat
29/08/08 - £3482.33cr emen
00.00. a ts
eement - Astwood Bank Post Office - £60,000 dr -i i
7 SOE } account number L.GRO_J, Mr gMrs Wilson
(astwood Bank Pt n) ~ Believed Closed november 2006!!
>RBS, SORT CODE! I, account number [ » Astwood Bank Post
ice, current balance 01/09/08 - £1549.13é#7
of 20/11/98 closed
GS207 received for home address 62 Lineholt Close - confirms property
is owned jointly by Julian & Karen WILSON, charges with RBS (Nov 2002)
and GE Money Home Lending (March 2006) - £109K outstanding according
to GS204 - Title at (Ref 3)
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03/10/ GS204 & 205 sent to Intel Txn on behalf of Gary cw
o8
GS207 for Evesham Rd confirms A Goldrick as owner. (Ref 3)
15/10/ GS204 & 205 results received (Ref 4) cw
08
Owns a V70 Volvo Estate Silver car 2435cc - W251 JDA (Car buyer
estimate value iro £2.5K)
13/11/ I Pre-production order enquiries with Lloyds identify £3.5K in one
os account; the other account balance is negligible. Also confirm Loan
with Lloyds TSB £14.7K & £60K.
13/11/ I NsgI confirm £120 balance
08
RBS confirm account has been closed in the last few weeks.
20/11/
08 Offender report and taped summary of interview received from GT
(Ref 5 & 6)
02/12/
os
15/12/ Discussed the issue of restraint with SAO and Jarnail Singh (CLT) and Gw
08 both are in agreement that it is PLAN to restrain the ident d
assets, namely
Home address, lease, 2 x accounts and car. Restraint prepared.
17/127 I Restraint obtained Judge Stow Court 6 Croydon CC (Ref 7) ow
08
Copy of order posted to Mr & Mrs Wilson
RX1 to Coventry LR
Fax & letter to Lloyds TSB, RE: 2 x accounts (Ref 8)
24/12/ Completion of registration received from Coventry LR (Ref 9) ow
08 (SAO authority also associated)
05/01/ Following contact from Wilson’s solicitors, Ged agrees to vary cw
09 restraint.
07/01/ I Charges advised by CLT cw
09
1 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson between the 1st day of September 2003
and the litt day of September 2008 at Astwood Bank Post Office
stole £27,811.98 belonging to Post Office Limited".
(Contrary to Section 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
2 FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 16° day of May 2007 at
Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to gain for
yourself falsified an account required for an accounting purpose
namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank Post
Office for the period ending 16t May 2007 by making an entry
therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand was
greater than the true figure".
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
3 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 10% day of October
2007 at Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to
gain for yourself falsified an account required for an accounting
purpose namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank
Post Office for the period ending 10‘ October 2007 by making an
entry therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand
was greater than the true figure”.
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07/01/
09
07/01/
09
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
4 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 12% day of December
2007 at Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to
gain for yourself falsified an account required for an accounting
purpose namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank
Post Office for the period ending 12% December 2007 by making an
entry therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand
was greater than the true figure".
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
5 "FOR THAT YOU Julian son on or about the 9*> day of January 2008
at Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to gain
for yourself falsified an account required for an accounting
purpose namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank
Post Office for the period ending 9% January 2008 by making an
entry therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand
was greater than the true figure”.
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
6 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 21st day of May 2008 at
Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to gain for
yourself falsified an account required for an accounting purpose
namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank Post
Office for the period ending 21s: May 2008 by making an entry
therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand was
greater than the true figure".
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
7 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 20% day of August 2008
at Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to gain
for yourself falsified an account required for an accounting
purpose namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank
Post Office for the period ending 20% August 2008 by making an
entry therein purporting to show that the amount of cash in hand
was greater than the true figure".
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
8 "FOR THAT YOU Julian Wilson on or about the 11 day of September
2008 at Astwood Bank Post Office dishonestly and with a view to
gain for yourself falsified an account required for an accounting
purpose namely the Final Branch Trading Account for Astwood Bank
Post Office for the period ending 11 September 2008 by making an
entry therein puzporting to show that the amount of cash in hand
was greater than the true figure".
(Contrary to Section 17(1) of the Theft Act 1968)
Summons to be arranged and served
16/017
09
Letter from Richard nelson solicitors requesting variation to restraint I GW
in respect of Lloyds TSB accounts.
16/01/
09
1% Court Appearance 4 March 2009 — Redditch Magistrates ew
16/02/
09
Variation of order obtained at Croydon CC, fax copies to Lloyds andI GW
Defence sols (Ref 10)
11/037
09
POST OFFICE LIMITED v JULIAN WILSON cw
REDDITCH MAGISTRATES COURT
COMMITTAL - 297 APRIL 2009 AT 2PM
CASE NO: POLTD/0809/0126
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The above named Defendant attended Redditch Magistrates Court on the 4™
March 2009. The prosecution was conducted by Counsel, the Defendant was
also represented.
The Defendant gave no indication of plea. The Magistrates declined
jurisdiction and the case was set down for committal on the 29t April
2009 at 2pm. The Defendant was granted unconditional bail.
30/04/ I Restraint charge arranged for Lloyds bank cow
09
18/05/ I On the 29% April 2009 the Defendant was committed to a Plea and Case I GW
09 Management Hearing at Worcester Crown Court on the 15% June 2009.
28/05/ E MAIL FROM CLT RE: indictment ow
09
COUNT 1 - STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
ING Contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Theft Act
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
JULIAN WILSON between the 1% day of January 2004 and the 31st day
of December 2004 dishonestly and with a view to gain for himself
falsified accounts required for an accounting purpose namely the
Weekly Cash Accounts (Final) for Astwood Bank Post Office by
making entries therein purporting to show that the amounts of cash
in hand were greater than the true figures
COUNT 2 - STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
FALSE ACCOUNTING Contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Theft Act
1968
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
JULIAN WILSON between the 1° day of January 2005 and the 31°t day
of December 2005 dishonestly and with a view to gain for himself
falsified accounts required for an accounting purpose namely the
Weekly Cash Accounts (Final) for Astwood Bank Post Office by
making entries therein purporting to show that the amounts of cash
in hand were greater than the true figures
COUNT 3 - STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
FALSE ACCOUNTING Contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Theft Act
1968
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
ON between the Ist day of January 2006 and the 15% day
2007 dishonestly and with a view to gain for himself
falsified accounts required for an accounting purpose namely the
Final Branch Trading Accounts for Astwood Bank Post Office by
making entries therein purporting to show that the amounts of cash
in hand were greater than the true figures
COUNT 4 - STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
FRAUD Contrary to Section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
JULIAN WILSON between the i5* day of January 2007 and the 14% day
of February 2008 dishonestly and intending thereby to make gain
for himself or another abused his position as Subpostmaster of
Astwood Bank Post Office in which he was expected to safeguard the
financial interests of Post Office Limited by enabling a
substantial deficiency to arise, by failing to make good that
deficiency whilst pretending that he had done so and by falsifying
entries in Final Branch Trading Statements in breach of Section 4
of the Fraud Act 2006
COUNT 5 - STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
FRAUD Contrary to Section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
JULIAN WILSON between the 12% day of February 2008 and the 17%
day of December 2008 dishonestly and intending thereby to make
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gain for himself abused his position as Subpostmaster of Astwood
Bank Post Office in which he was expected to safeguard the
financial interests Post ice Limited by enabling a
substantial deficiency to arise, by failing to make good that
deficiency whilst pretending that he had done so and by falsifying
entries in Final Branch Trading Statements in breach of Section 4
of the Fraud Act 2006
18/06/ I The above named Defendant appeared at Worcester Crown Court on 15 June I GW
09 2009.
MEMO
FROM Following discussions between Counsel and consultation with this Office,
cLT the Defendant pleaded guilty to Counts 4 and 5 of the Indictment on an
agreed basis reflecting the full loss of approximately £27,800.
A pre-sentence report was requested and the case was adjourned.
This matter is now listed on 3 August 2009 for sentence.
The case was adjourned to the above date to give the Defendant ample
opportunity to sell the post office and thereby repay the loss prior to
sentence. The Sect 18 statement was not signed or served at Court
however, in the event the outstanding sum not repaid, confiscation
proceedings will be considered at the next hearing.
$18 prepared and e-mailed to Jennee Andrews
17/077 ILetter received from Astwood Law solicitors re: charge on Lineholt I GW
09 Close. Spoke with Graham Clark who will e-mail me details of the charge
and clarification of how they would like RM to deal with their request
to apply the registration of the re-mortgage which replaces the charge
with the Bank Of Scotland and which only exceeds this charge by £400.
24/07/ I E mail from Graham Clark received - responded to Jarnail cw
09
Mr Ward,
Thank you for phoning me this afternoon following my request to you for your company’s
consent to the registration of the charge in favour of Lloyds TSB over Mr and Mrs Wilson's
property. Specifically you asked me the amount of the charge being paid off and the amount of
the replacement charge. The redemption figure for the old charge to Royal Bank of Scotland
was £39,638.93. I received from the new mortgage company Lloyds TSB £40,000, but on
checking my papers carefully, it appears to be the case that the actual amount of the new
mortgage is £60,000. The mortgage was to secure an overdraft so I do not know whether the
other £20,000 has been used up in that way.
I now await hearing from you please simply with your company's letter consenting to the
registration of the new charge. I note you already appreciate the point that I'm about to make
but I will if I may make it again. The replacement of the RBS charge with the Lloyds charge was
completed in June 2008, six months before your Restraint Order. If RBS had dealt with their
paperwork promptly, the new charge would have been registered well before the Restraint
Order. I cannot see therefore that there is any ground for your objecting to issuing your consent.
I might make the point as well that the RBS charge has at last been removed, but its
replacement with the Lloyds charge awais your consent. The present situation with the property
is therefore unreal and needs to be regularised by the registration of the Lloyds charge.
I hope I'm not unrealistic in thinking that I can hear from you by the end of the coming week,
that is by 24 July. If that is unrealistic, or if you feel a further discussion with me would be
helpful, please don't hesitate to speak to me again. Thank you.
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Sincerely,
Graham Clark
04/08/ IT/P call from Gary 7 . +. Wilson sentenced to 200 hrs community I GW
09 service on the 3*4 at Worcester CC, POL awarded costs of £3500
provisional POCA Timetable set but will not ‘kick in’ until September to
allow time for Wilson to pay back the £27K loss.
A timetable for Confiscation proceedings was set as follows:~
1 Defence to respond to Section 18 request by 11 September 2009.
2 Section 16 Prosecutors Statement to be served by 16" October 2009.
3 Defence to respond by 30" October 2009.
4 Prosecution response by 13" November 2009.
11/08/ I Jarnail forwards e-mail & letter from Richard Nelson Sols
09
Dear Mr Singh
Further to our telephone conversation, please find attached a copy of
the letter sent to you on 24% July 2009. You will note that enclosures
were also sent. Can you please respond at the earliest opportunity. Mr
Wilson is still in possession of the cheque and wishes to pay this
into a restrained account. He is currently using a friends vehicle as
a temporary stop gap and would appreciate your response at the
earliest opportunity in order that he can purchase the vehicle
referred to in the letter.
I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest opportunity in
order that we can then attend to drafting the appropriate Variation
Order, if necessary.
Kind regards
Charlotte Knight
Solicitor
Richard Nelson Solicitors
* Emai
( Tel:
( Direct’ Dialt
GRO
Copy of letter dated 24% July
We represent Mr Julian Wilson and write in relation to his vehicle
which is subject to the Restraint Order, namely the Volvo V70 2.4
classic, gistration W251 JDA.
Mr Wilson’s wife was unfortunately involved in an incident in this
vehicle on 234 June 2009 which has resulted in the car being
classified as a right off. Please find a letter from Bluecycle
confirming the removal of the vehicle.
ilson’s insurers have provided £2250 in respect of the claim and
sent a cheque to Mr Wilson. Please find enclosed a letter
confirming this. Mr Wilson has not yet banked this cheque as he was
unsure how to proceed. However, he intends to bank the cheque into
his Lloyds TSB account, account number 24486468, sort code 77-27-20.
Mr Wilson needs a vehicle in order to carry out his business and for
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personal use and there needs to purchase a replacement vehicle. He
intends to purchase a VW Passat from an acquaintance of his. The
value for this vehicle is £4250 but the vendor is willing to take
£2250 on the condition that Mr Wilson provides the remainder at a
later date when he is able to do so. Please find enclosed an invoice
confirming the purchase of this vehicle.
We would therefore be grateful if the Post Office could consent to
the monies being released from the above named account to enable Mr
Wilson to purchase the replacement vehicle.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Amy Cheunviratsakul
Legal Assistant
My response dated 13/08/09
Jarnail
Sorry for the delay in responding but I've been on a training course
this week.
We have already varied the original restraint order to allow Mr & Mrs
Wilson to use this account. The varied order was forwarded to you on
the 16th Feb. An unstamped copy is attached below for your reference.
I do not see why we would need to vary the order again, given this
variation allows them to use the account.
Variation of Restraint Lloyds.doc
With regards to the £2,250 he has received for the ‘written off' Volvo
beteeeeee given this asset was under restraint, I do not see why we
would agree to allow him to use the money he has received, to buy
another car when he still owes us over £27K.
13/08/ I Memo from Jarnail re~: Lloyds Charge cw
09 I now enclose copy letter received from Lloyds TSB Solicitors together with enclosure. I note that
the Mortgage Deed is not dated and I have requested them to provide me with a Mortgage Deed
with the date so that we can determine that the mortgage was completed in June 2008 prior to
the Restraining Order we have on the property. (no action for me)
26/08/ IMemo from CLT re: Wilson purchasing a car ow
09 I now enclose copy letter received from Richard Nelson, Solicitors instructed by Julian Wilson dated
20" August 2009 which is self explanatory. They have omitted to enclose the document relating to)
the purchase of the vehicle which I have requested them to supply.
In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards.
Jamail Singh
Senior Lawyer
Criminal Law Division
15/09/ I S18 response received 10'* September cw
09
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02/107 I S16(3) sent to CLT - TO BE SERVED BY 16/10/09 GW
09
12/10/ I Memo from CLT confirms $16 served on defence- case listed for a half dayI GW
09 hearing on the 17% Dec 2009
17/127 IConfiscation Hearing - Worcester CC sitting at Hereford - HH Judge I GW
09 Rundell. 720090199
Benefit figure set £28,434.95
Available amount - not less than £40,497.00
Confiscation & Compensation to Post Office® Ltd set at £28,434.95.
To be paid within 6 months or default sentence of 12 months imprisonment
will be imposed.
Case file posted to Manchester Casework Team 18th December 2009-12-18
JARD updated - case ref 091414 (conf order ref 091215)
18/067 IDeZence asking for 6 months extension ..... Jarnail believes 3 months more I GW
10 appropriate ...... Paul agrees and CLT will write to the court
20/07/ I REGINA v JULIAN WILSON - WORCESTER CROWN COURT cw
10 APPLICATION TO AMEND THE CONFISCATION ORDER FOR TIME FOR PAYMENT - 97#
SEPTEMBER 2010 - CASE NO: POLTD/0809/0126
The above Application has been listed at Worcester Crown Court for the
9% September 2010.
14/09/ I the above-named defendant appeared at Worcester Crown Court on 9% ow
10 September to apply for an extension of time of six months in order to
e-mail I sell the lease to his property. As three months had already expired,
from the court granted an extension to 15% December 2010. Counsel, Richard
cut Cole, has spoken to defence counsel who asked whether the vetting
process of the people who want to buy the business, can be expedited.
Apparently, Mr Wilson has accepted an offer of £70,000 for the
business lease. Could you exert some pressure in this direction as,
obviously, the sooner the lease is sold the sooner the Post Office
gets its money. Best wishes, Phil
Spoke with Sue Muddeman on the 17% .... latest applicant Mistry has
been rejected.
e-mail sent to Sue Muddeman 24* Sept.
22/127 I Sarnail ow
10
I have received an e-mail this morning from the Magistrates Court
dealing with the enforcement of this confiscation order. They have
just received a cheque for £11K from Mr Wilson (which l be
forwarded on in due course). They are going to wait to see if the
outstanding sum (approx £17.4K) w be forwarded before listing the
matter for an enforcement hearing.
Regards
Graham Ward
22/12/ I Sue Muddeman confirms new Subpmtr application process will commence on GW
10 4m Jan 2011.
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10/01/
11
£11K cheque received from RART team.
19/01/
JARD details a further £11K received by RART team on the 14% Jan.
Graham (RART team) to establish current recovery position — confirms
via t/p that £11K has been re-paid and will be forwarded in due
course.
e-mail to Jane asking she forward a copy of BOI statement to RART.
darnail
As discussed today, further to the e-mail below, please be advised that I interviewed Mrs
Pardeep Malhi for the position of Subpostmaster, Astwood Bank branch on 2 March 2011 and
she has provisionally been offered the appointment subject to receipt of satisfactory criminal
records checks. For your information, the request for a criminal records check was submitted by
our Agent Recruitment Team on 04.03.11 and the results are normally received within 7-10
days. I checked with Agent Recruitment today and unfortunately we have not had the results
back as yet. Mrs Malhi had agreed to purchase the ‘goodwill’ of the business from Mr Wilson
with the intention of re-locating the Post Office into her nearby family run convenience store. As
this will be a branch relocation as part of our Charter we will have to undertake a public
consultation exercise. I spoke with Zoe Hibberd today (Post Office Ltd Field Change Advisor)
and Zoe informed me that she will be working to the following consultation timescales:-
Consultation to commence 22.03.11
Decision taken following result of consultation 05.05.11
Decision communicated to opinion formers 19.05.11
Earliest date of opening in new location 16.06.11
I hope this is of some help. I will keep you up-dated on the progress of the application. If you
need any further information please do not hesitate to give me a call on 07850 913804. Many
thanks.
Kind Regards
Glenn Chester
Restraint order stil
19/05/
11
Hello Graham,
We have not received any payments from Julian Wilson since last year. Would you have any
comments to make on us listing him for a default hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court?
If we did go ahead with this, would you appoint someone to lead for the prosecution? I can send
you a list of possible court dates if you agree that a court listing would be appropriate.
Regards, Graham
Graham Christie
e-mail response advising to list for enforcement but Post Office® wiil not be appointing anyone.
30/08/
11
Enforcement Hearing 8" Sept - (Matthew at WM RART) — Birmingham Mags Court
Outstanding balance includes interest = £18,430.50.
04/097
1
e-mail from RART
Hi Graham
Julian Wilson contacted me today and made full payment of £18,441.97. This accounts for
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order balance plus outstanding interest. The payment will appear on Jard on Tuesday 6
September when the order will be closed.
Andrew - please note as this case is listed in your enforcement court on Thursday 8 September
Regards, Matt
15/09/ I Due to loss being repaid, Discharge of Restraint Order obtained at Croydon Crown Court, DP
11 signed by HH Judge Ainley. RX4 also completed and submitted to LR Coventry.