Bank manager denies theft

A jury is considering its verdicts at the trial of a bank manager accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds to shore up ailing businesses.

Barclays Bank small business manager Simon Clubley is accused of creating false loans and overdrafts from the bank and taking money from wealthy private clients to support struggling firms.

Mr Clubley, 43, of Grange Road, Little Cransley, Northamptonshire, denies 25 specimen charges of theft relating to £503,297 between March 1995 and June 1998.

Three of his customers at Barclays' Wellingborough Road branch in Northampton are charged with dishonestly retaining wrongful credit.

They are Michael Kelly, Matthew Kelly and Victoria Bateman.

Fear of ridicule

Mr Clubley's barrister, Emma Broadbent, told Northampton Crown Court that he was not being maliciously dishonest.

She said he believed his risks with the loans and overdrafts would improve the companies' fortunes and they would be able to pay back the money in the future.

She said this fear of being ridiculed by his superiors led him to boost the accounts.

Ms Broadbent said Mr Clubley felt wrongly blamed in the past for the failure of a mobile phone company under his guidance.

It is alleged that Mr Kelly, 61, of Kingsway, Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire and his son Matthew Kelly, 33, of Fermoy Court, Little Brington, received £87,000 from Mr Clubley over three years.

Victoria Bateman, 33, of Upper High Street, Harpole, allegedly received £60,000.

The three customers deny the charges, saying Mr Clubley deceived them about the amounts being credited to their business.