A veteran accountant has been charged with fraud over allegations he “dipped into” a family trust fund to steal more than £400,000.
Tony Stitt, 78, is accused of transferring money from the fund into his own bank account in an alleged fraud which ran from January 2017 to August 2020.
It is said he took £411,213.32 with three people, David Levy, Jon Morgan, and Sharon Levy, named as the alleged victims.
Stitt, who boasts of experience working in the City of London and now operates as an accountant in the Hampstead and Swiss Cottage areas, appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Monday.
He pleaded not guilty to two charges – fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.
The criminal charges were brought after a Metropolitan Police investigation.
In his online CV, Stitt sets out how he has given tax advice to City titans such as Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, and Deutsche Bank during his career. He set up his own accountancy practice in 2010.
Stitt is accused of “fraudulent activity over a sustained period of time”, the prosecutor told the court hearing.
“Mr Stitt was in charge of a trust fund”, she said.
“He effectively started dipping into the trust fund without authorisation
“He has made transfers from the trust fund into his own personal account.”
After entering the not guilty pleas, Stitt – who represented himself in court – was told his case would be heard at Wood Green crown court.
The accountant, who told magistrates he had suffered a stroke a couple of years ago, used a walking stick to enter and leave the dock.
Stitt, of Goldhurst Terrace in South Hampstead, was released on unconditional bail until the next court hearing on July 21.
He was also advised by magistrates to seek legal representation before the next court appearance.
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