Director pleads not guilty to fraud and theft
Christopher Yarnold, the former director of AP Lifting Gear Company Ltd (APLGC Ltd), appeared in court in October 2025.
He was charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position, one count of fraud by false representation, one count of theft and one count of being concerned in money laundering.
Former employee Sharon Mason stood with him in the dock, charged with the same offences. Both denied all four charges made against them.
The pair were accused of stealing £361,000 of cash from the company, adjusting stock levels and claiming false expenses between 1 July 2020 and 31 January 2023.
Yarnold also pleaded not guilty to three additional charges. These include one further count of fraud by false representation, fraudulently stating that his son worked for the company and the theft of £1.6 million worth of stock belonging to APLGC Ltd.
Despite pleading not guilty, the pair will have a long wait before they can contest the charges, as the judge confirmed that the trial has been set for 16 October 2028 and is expected to last no less than seven days.
However, this wait will give them time to prepare their defence, which in some cases may involve forensic accountants investigating the financial records to support their not guilty pleas.
Roger Isaacs, National Technical Director of NIFA, explains, “While forensic accountants are sometimes seen as being instructed to support one side or the other in court, our overriding duty is to the court. We examine the financial evidence and allow the facts to speak for themselves.
“In cases involving alleged fraud, theft and manipulation of records, the evidence is often complex and spread across accounting systems, stock records and bank data over a long period. A forensic review allows the prosecution’s narrative to be tested against the underlying records, highlighting any weaknesses or inconsistencies and establishing who had access to the systems involved. This type of analysis is often central to a defence, especially where multiple individuals are accused and responsibility is disputed.
“However, in this case it is hard to see how justice can be delivered with such a long delay before the trial.”
Sources: Stourbridge News
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