Nelson computer firm boss pocketed customers' cash

11:17am Wednesday 23rd July 2008

A COMPUTER firm owner pocketed almost £4,000 of customers’ cash for a software system he didn’t deliver, a court heard.

Father-of-two Akbar Ullah, 29, took the money from mortgage brokers who thought they were paying for his technical expertise, but they ended up losing the cash instead, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Ullah, who was subject to a suspended prison sentence at the time, was said to have been having cash-flow problems with his business, which had a turnover of £25,000 a year.

The defendant, of Leeds Road, Nelson, had earlier admitted obtaining a money transfer by deception and fraud last December.

He was given 120 hours unpaid work and must pay £3,525 compensation.

Recorder Rowena Goode, who had read references on Ullah’s behalf, including one from Coun Mohammed Iqbal, told the defendant it was a concern that Ullah committed the offences six months after being given the suspended sentence.

Nigel Booth, prosecuting, said Ullah went on the internet making contact with mortgage brokers offering technical expertise in setting up a system which would redirect people to the company’s website if they were searching for mortgage brokers.

Two companies handed over money in the sums of £2,350 and £1,175.

One of them tried to contact the defendant, but couldn’t get in touch with him.

He made phone calls and sent faxes and emails but his efforts failed.

The other victim did manage to get hold of Ullah but the defendant alleged his office had been broken into and his computers had been smashed up.

Neil Usher, defending, said Ullah had not only been sloppy and unprofessional, but dishonest.

He had been having cashflow problems with his company, which sold software to small and medium businesses and which he had been running for two years.

Mr Usher said Ullah felt genuine remorse and shame. He had been having cashflow problems he said.

The defendant, who formerly worked for Time Computers, had a genuine product he hoped to sell but was unable to deliver, the court heard.

He knew he should have refunded the money, Mr Usher went on, adding: “He was unable to sell it, the money had been spent.

“He repeatedly fobbed off the two businesses.”

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