Ex-financial advisor from Sheffield accused of £200,000 fraud

Martin Rigney, of King Edwards, Rivelin Valley, has appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with committing eight counts of fraud and 11 counts of forgery between 2003 and 2012.

The case involves an alleged 15 victims from the Hope Valley area of Derbyshire.

The 66-year-old, formerly of Great Hucklow, near Buxton, gave no indication of plea and was released on unconditional bail and will appear at Derby Crown Court for a further hearing on February 2.

Becky Allsop, prosecuting, said: “At the time of these incidents Rigney was an independent financial adviser and director of Topps Rogers Financial Management.

“There are a number of complainants who were customers of Rigney’s company and the allegation is that he transferred various monies without their authorisation.

“Authorisations were allegedly forged and that is accounted for by charges of making a false instrument or forgery. These alleged offences came to light when the son of an elderly couple made a complaint that his parents’ signatures had been forged and the victims were vulnerable and Rigney was acting in a position of trust.”