Fraud trial hears claims of property boss's false promises to investors

JURY TOLD HE GUARANTEED MONTHLY PAYOUTS - BUT VICTIMS LOST £100,000

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A NOTTINGHAM business owner "exploited" seven victims from the same close-knit community to invest £100,000 in his property company for returns that didn't materialise, a fraud trial has heard.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court was told how Godfrey Egbendip promised monthly paybacks of 10% to 15% to anyone who put money into his firm but then ignored messages from them when they received little or nothing.

The 59-year-old defendant, of Bestwood, got the victims to sign contracts agreeing to put the cash in which would be invested in letting and managing homes around the city, the prosecution claim. But within months, all of them had lost money and reported it to the police.

Egbendip, of Beckhampton Road, faces seven counts of fraud, which he denies.