by Jane Roberts
Etam, the fashion retailer taking legal action against its former property director Bob Sutcliffe and three associates who, it alleges, were involved in a £2m property fraud, has issued a writ against former Middlesex cricketer Roland Butcher.
Butcher was known by shop agents as a friend of Sutcliffe and lives in the same town, Iver in Buckinghamshire. One agent said that Sutcliffe had been involved in fund-raising work on the batsman’s behalf.
The writ alleges that, on several occasions between 1992 and 1996, Sutcliffe caused Etam to make payments totalling £45,500 to Butcher for work allegedly carried out by Butcher’s company, Hurley Property Consultants, under retainers that Butcher had with Etam to provide rent review services.
The writ lists eight invoices paid to Butcher where it alleges he either played no part in negotiations, or where reviews had been agreed either before or after the invoice date.
It says that, after payment, part of the money – usually half – was paid either directly to Sutcliffe or indirectly to Taylors Retail Consultants, controlled by Sutcliffe.
Etam is being advised in its investigations into the alleged fraud by solicitor Berg & Co and property consultant Charles Price. Their work is believed to have uncovered several hundred allegedly fraudulent invoices.
Reuben Berg of Berg & Co said: “There will be further action against a number of individuals.” The firm is also attempting to reach agreements with other individuals for repayment of sums it claims belong to Etam.
