Mother admits fraud charges but declines to name 'recruiter'

A mother-of-three cashed four cheques totalling £10,000 from the account of a local firm of solicitors after being recruited by a "silver-tongued" man known as "M", who was thought to work at the company, a court heard.

But Debbie Smith, aged 33, was paid only £50 per cheque she cashed, Dudley magistrates were told. Smith, of Blowers Green, Dudley, declined to give police officers the identity of the person who had given her the cheques, saying that she believed her family may be in danger.

Smith admitted four charges, each of fraud by cashing a cheque to the value of £2,500 from the account of Peter Chahal Solicitors, intending to gain the money for another person. The firm, in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, is now closed.

The sole practitioner of the company, Peter Chahal, said after the court hearing yesterday that he had brought in police and the Law Society to investigate a fraud on his firm and would not comment further.

The case was adjourned until July 15 for a probation report.

Miss Val Hart, prosecuting, said Smith was one of a number of people interviewed as part of a larger police investigation into fraudulent activity involving cheque books belonging to the solicitors.

Miss Hart added that, when asked for the identity of the person who had given her the cheques she refused, saying she thought her family may be in danger. Smith told police she gave the money to a person she called "M".

Mr Malcolm Fowler, defending, said: "The truth of all of this is that this lady was clearly recruited by someone in a position of some apparent authority in the practice of solicitors that has been mentioned.

"Someone with a silver tongue persuaded her to become involved."