Crooked letting agent admits taking over £220,000 from clients

A former lettings agent in Plymouth has finally admitted taking hundreds of thousands of pounds from tenants and landlords - the total is thought to be between £220,000 and £260,000. 

Last month we reported that Heather Crabb, who owned Plymouth-based Drake Homes from 2005 until it closed in September 2016, had admitted a charge of false accounting, two charges of fraud by abuse of position and two counts of theft. She also admits a separate fraud charge of stealing from landlords and tenants between March 2015 and December 2017.

Now Plymouth Crown Court has heard that Crabb and co-defendant Jill Wood - a co-owner of the agency - changed their pleas after originally denying a string of theft and fraud offences.

Judge Robert Linford released the pair on bail until a date to be fixed later this month.

This court appearance is merely the latest in a series of events in the saga of Crabb’s arrest and conviction. 

Two years ago she issued a statement saying her office in Plymouth had closed following her suffering a stroke. It read: “Due to continued ill health, we are informing you that the portfolio of Drake Homes is being transferred to a reputable agent who will look after your interests. We are in the process of completing your final accounts accordingly and the new agent, who is well established and very experienced will be in touch in due course. Kind regards. Heather.”