A First Choice agent from County Durham has appeared in court on fraud charges.
Paul Crane, 31, of Birch Crescent, Burnopfield, County Durham, who worked for the Gateshead branch, appeared before magistrates in the town on a preliminary hearing on Friday, December 11.
Outlining the case against Crane, prosecutor Justin Gibson told the court that management had first been alerted to the alleged fraud when it proved impossible to contact a client about an overdue balance on a booking.
An investigation then began and a total of 19 fictitious bookings were discovered.
This led to the accusation that Crane was making the bookings and entering the deposits in the computer, before cancelling the bookings and keeping the commission.
Mr Gibson told the court: “Telephone calls were made and letters sent to the clients but they turned out to be non-existent.”
Crane made no plea to the accusations of theft and dishonestly abusing his position between March 2008 and January 2009 and the case was committed for trial at Newcastle Crown Court on February 1.
Crane was granted bail.