A MAN who pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud in which nearly £1 million was taken from victims has been told by a judge to "expect a custodial sentence" later this year.

At Bradford Crown Court today (Thursday) Peter Grant Holbrook, 75, of Crossfield Close, Oxenhope, Keighley, admitted seven of eight counts of fraud by abuse of position in a case brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

The charges admitted by Holbrook relate to him misappropriating money belonging to eight different victims between 2011 and 2021 while acting as a financial advisor, trustee and/or custodian of funds. 

The amounts were as follows: £384,303; £231,625; £150,000; £115,829; £58,773; £39,307 and £20,000.

He denied taking £9,147 from another individual. The guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown and he will not face trial for the charge he denies. 

In court, Holbrook’s defence counsel told the judge that his client was of previous ‘exemplary’ character and had a gambling addiction. He and his wife both have health problems.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled to take place at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, September 8, 2023.

"This is a very serious and significant fraud," Judge Colin Burn. 

"I'll grant you bail until September 8 this year and in that time you will be interviewed about your attitude to this offending and the underlying reasons behind it.

"But you'll want to put your affairs in order because you'll likely be looking at an immediate custodial sentence."