Robin Hood banker stole 'to help' firms

A bank manager, described as a "fraudulent Robin Hood", who siphoned off more than £1m to support struggling firms has been found guilty of stealing.

The jury at Northampton Crown Court convicted Simon Clubley of 24 specimen charges of theft from Barclays Bank

The court heard Clubley, a small business manager, created false loans and overdrafts from the bank and took money from wealthy private clients to support struggling firms.

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

Three cleared

His three co-accused, father and son businessmen Michael and Matthew Kelly and Victoria Bateman, were each cleared of six specimen charges of dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit.

Mr Kelly, 61, of Kingsway, Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire, and son Matthew, 33, of Fermoy Court, Little Brington, denied receiving £87,000 from Clubley over the three years.

Victoria Bateman, 33, of Upper High Street, Harpole, denied receiving £60,000.

The court heard that between March 1995 and June 1998, Clubley moved about £528,000 into the Kellys' business account.

In the same period Mrs Bateman's business account was credited with £364,000.

Unauthorised overdrafts

The three claimed they had been unaware of the loans and overdrafts benefiting their companies.

Their barristers held Clubley accountable for the missing money, saying he had "deceived" the business owners and abused his position of trust and authority.

The court heard Clubley siphoned more than £1 million into clients' accounts to cover unauthorised overdrafts.

He provided money for several businesses struggling financially but it was the Kellys' M&M Trading company and Mrs Bateman's Stardisc business which benefited most.

'Forlorn hope'

Emma Broadbent, appearing for Clubley, said he was not being maliciously dishonest.

He believed his risks with loans and overdrafts would improve the companies' fortunes and they would be able to repay the money in the future.

The key to his actions, she said, was the "forlorn hope" that the businesses would recover and his actions resolved.

Clubley was released on conditional bail to appear at Coventry Crown Court for sentence in January next year.

Trial judge Patrick Eccles QC called him a "fraudulent Robin Hood".