Tied adviser swindled friend out of £22,000

A former tied adviser who defrauded a friend out of £22,000, pocketing £10,000 for himself, has escaped jail but must repay the money.

The Swindon Advertiser reports Declan Keating, of Oxford, pleaded guilty to fraud charges - dating back to 2007 - at Swindon Crown Court. The former Allied Dunbar adviser had been friends with the victim for ten years when he asked her to invest in a new business, K2 Solutions. He had previously supplied her with legitimate advice, indicating the victim trusted him with money. Two cheques, one for £12,000 and another for £10,000 were handed over in late 2007 but never used for business purposes. Keating disappeared in February 2008 and it took the victim two years to track him down. ...