Highgate financial controller stole £1.3million and ‘blew cash on renting private plane’

The financial controller of a London firm of estate agents has been convicted of stealing £1.3million from the company.

Karen Chin, 45, of North Hill, Highgate, has already been put behind bars by a judge who is demanding to know what she spent the money on. Judge David Richardson has warned her that a prison sentence is inevitable.

Chin took the money while she was employed by Hurford Salvi Carr at the firm’s headquarters in Britton Street, Clerkenwell.

Blackfriars Crown Court was told she diverted client funds into multiple bank and credit card accounts she controlled.

Her former employers claim much of the money was blown on high-living, luxury goods and holidays, including the rental of a private plane and a £35,000 family vacation to Mauritius.

The judge said: “You are plainly going to prison and the only question is for how long. I want to know what you have done with the money and if it is true you have been shifting assets.”

On Monday Chin pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud by abuse of a position of trust between February 19, 2008 and February 19, 2013. She asked for three offences under the Theft Act committed before 2008 to be taken into consideration.