I trusted colleague, says man in Shropshire fraud trial
An alleged Shropshire fraudster claimed in a statement to police that he had no reason to doubt the credentials of his co-accused when they worked together at an animated children's film company.
Simon Drew, 49, told police he did not challenge David Griffiths' achievements and believed he would be "set up for life" from the anticipated success of the firm.
In the statement made to West Mercia police, and read to a jury at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday , Drew said he did not question the accuracy of what was said about 50-year-old Griffiths.
The two are each claiming that the other was responsible for an alleged £14 million fraud as their trial enters its ninth week.
Griffiths, of New Road, Oreton, near Cleobury Mortimer, and Drew, formerly of Larches Lane, Oreton, and now living in Rye, West Sussex, both deny 16 charges of fraud by false representation and 18 allegations of deception between 2004 and 2009.
Monies went through Bewdley-based Inspire GLG Ltd, which acted as the hub for a series of production companies using the titles of the proposed animated children's TV programmes.
The prosecution has alleged the two men used false claims about their backgrounds and the company, to dupe people into investing in the film projects.
In his statement Drew said he had agreed a £100,000 contract with Griffiths at Inspire in 2004 and had secured investments of about £15 million by 2009 when the companies went into administration.
Griffiths told police he had been the one "who had lost the most" having secured his home on his initial investment. The trial continues.
