Ludlow fraud trial told of false cash claims

Michael Woolcock, 49, was put in charge of the estimated £2 million operation, designed to provide power for houses and other buildings on the estate at Oakly Park at Bromfield, near Ludlow.

A jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that Woolcock was alleged to have exaggerated his hours of work, the hours worked by a member of his staff, the cost of hiring equipment and the cost of insurance.

Woolcock denies a charge of fraud between June, 2010 and May, 2012, involving invoices for work and services totalling £80,930 which were either not completed or not supplied.

In addition Woolcock, of Vernold's Common, Craven Arms, denies an allegation of false accounting between January and May, 2012, involving a financial spread sheet.

Mr David Lee, prosecuting, claimed that Woolcock had been involved in a significant breach of trust having grown up on the Earl of Plymouth's property where his father had been previously been estate manager.

He said the estate businesses

included Cymric Ltd of Hereford, a company established to carry out the extensive hydro-electric scheme on the estate. In 2009, as Woolcock was familiar with the estate and was trusted and had experience dealing with water drainage problems through his business, Teme Water, he was asked to complete a feasibility report.

He was later put in a position of trust by the Estate board and given the role of project manager with a set fee for his company of £56,000, which was to include labour costs, other charges and use of equipment.

Woolcock is alleged to have exaggerated his hours of work –listing more than 2000 hours he said he had worked on the project.

Mr Lee alleged the figures were used to explain the discrepancies found by the auditors.

"There would not have been enough hours in the day to have done the work he says – even if he had been allowed to claim the time," he said.

The trial continues.