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Crime Desk
Michelle Rowe, aged 40 (d.o.b 19/12/70), a former Managing Director of Hever Gardens, Bromley was sentenced at Harrow Magistrates' Court on Monday, 9 May, to a sixteen week suspended sentence and 148 hours of community service after being found guilty of four counts of fraud by false representation.
Through her company, Arlington Network, based in Elephant and Castle, Rowe advertised non-existent job vacancies for trainee housing officers.
Successful candidates were then interviewed before being told that they had to pay £400 to complete a course to secure their position.
These positions never materialised, Arlington Networks ceased to exist and Rowe set up a new company called Career For Life, based in Bromley.
Her victims traced her to the new company address when the applicants confronted her and asked to be reimbursed. Rowe personally issued them with cheques which she cancelled before they could be cashed.
Police were contacted in January 2010 by one of her victims, a 24-year-old woman from Harrow, who became suspicious when she was contacted by her bank to be told Rowe's cheque had bounced.
Three other victims came forward after the police began their investigation.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Lisa Linsley from Harrow CID said:
"Rowe was ordered to pay back the £400 to the four victims.
"The Magistrate took into account the fact that she has no previous convictions, otherwise he indicated that he would have imposed a custodial sentence.
"Rowe is a calculating individual who preyed on vulnerable young adults who were keen to find employment. She showed no remorse during interview or during the trial.
"Please be wary, when applying for jobs, of unscrupulous people who are looking to take advantage."
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