Fake professional indemnity documents issued; SRA helps affected law firms find cover
A Bury broker faces jail after admitting to duping local firms by issuing fake professional indemnity policies and certificates.
Clive Hesketh, 47, from Tottington, fleeced businesses of more than £90,000 between January 2010 and October 2010. Hesketh pleaded guilty to 11 counts of false representation when he appeared before Bury magistrates on 15 August.
Hesketh headed up Lakeland Technologies, which traded as Pinnacle Insurance Services, based in Market Street, Bury.
He had named Travelers Insurance on some of the fraudulent documents, although the insurer has issued a statement confirming it had nothing to do with the broker’s duplicity.
Affected law firms have been given temporary Assigned Risks Pool cover, according to a spokesman from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which is helping those firms affected find permanent cover.
An SRA spokesman said: “The SRA has co-operated fully with the FSA and Bury police and it is understood that the FSA is dealing with any compensation claims arising.”
The FSA declined to comment.
Hesketh is due to be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on 15 September.
