Solicitor warned he faces jail after fraud trial guilty verdict

A JUDGE has warned a solicitor found guilty of committing more than �650,000 worth of fraudulent mortgage transactions that he faces jail.

The jury took two-and-a-half hours to reach their unanimous verdict in the case of Benjamin Cornelius, who throughout his trial at Cardiff Crown Court flatly denied eight charges of fraud and eight of transferring criminal property.

Following the convictions, Judge David Wynn Morgan told the 37-year-old, of St Andrews Close, Mayals, that the only issue was the length of time he "will be detained in custody".

David Richards, 32, of Garth Road, Rhydyfro, Pontardawe, who pleaded guilty to fraud on the morning he was due to stand trial with Cornelius, will be sentenced alongside him tomorrow. Richards is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for an offence of conspiracy to supply heroin.

In addition, Cornelius yesterday admitted a further charge of "doing an act intending to pervert the course of public justice".

The case against Cornelius was that he acted as a conveyancing solicitor in "mortgage or re-mortgage transactions" for eight dwellings in 2008 where he had provided the applicant "with funds to purchase the properties". This amounts to a conflict of interest as a solicitor cannot act when he has a personal interest.

At the time of the offences he worked at Swansea-based W. Parry & Co. His former employer William Parry told jurors the first he knew of the defendant's alleged conduct was when police turned up at his Walter Road office.

Cornelius, who owns a portfolio of properties across Swansea, had access to funds through a mortgage "draw down facility", his defence told the court. He funded four of the properties concerned for Richards. Other transactions relate to Cornelius advancing cash for his business partner Matthew Benjamin.

Judge Morgan stressed that police found no evidence of any wrongdoing on Mr Benjamin's part and no charges were ever brought against him.

Cornelius maintained that while he accepted he had breached solicitors' regulations, at the time of the offences he hadn't realised this.

Judge Morgan said that in "an act of mercy" he would allow Cornelius bail until his sentencing hearing.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk

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