Former Director and Employee Deny Charges of Theft, Fraud, and Money Laundering

Olivia Warburton, a former director of AP Lifting Gear Company Ltd (APLGC Ltd), has been accused of stealing over £1 million worth of stock. The former director, 60-year-old Christopher Yarnold, and former employee, 54-year-old Sharon Mason, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where they denied all charges made against them. The pair is accused of stealing £361,000 of cash from the company between July 1, 2020, and January 31, 2023. Yarnold has also pleaded not guilty to three additional charges, including the theft of £1.6 million worth of stock belonging to APLGC Ltd.

Key Takeaways:

• Christopher Yarnold, 60-year-old former director of AP Lifting Gear Company Ltd, has been accused of stealing over £1 million worth of stock.
• Yarnold and Sharon Mason, 54-year-old former employee, have denied all charges made against them, including fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation, theft from another person, and being concerned in money laundering.
• The pair is accused of stealing £361,000 of cash from the company between July 1, 2020, and January 31, 2023.
• Yarnold has pleaded not guilty to three additional charges, including the theft of £1.6 million worth of stock belonging to APLGC Ltd.
• Yarnold was a Director of APLGC Ltd until February 2023.
• The trial has been set for October 16, 2028, and is expected to last no less than seven days.
• The defendants have been granted unconditional bail until their next court appearance.

Statistics:

• £361,000: the amount of cash stolen from the company.
• §1.6 million: the amount of stock believed to have been stolen from the company.
• July 1, 2020 - January 31, 2023: the period during which the alleged thefts took place.
• October 16, 2028: the scheduled date of the trial.
• Seven days: the minimum duration of the trial.

Sources:

• [1] Crown Prosecution Service (no date) - Yarnold and Mason deny theft and fraud charges.