A FAMILY of auctioneers who stole customers’ money to pay for luxury lifestyles have been sentenced for fraud and money laundering.

Johnathan and Beverly King, of Mattock Way, Abingdon, syphoned off up to a quarter of a million pounds from people who trusted them to sell their valuables, a court heard.

The money was spent on shopping trips and a holiday to Dubai. The couple were found guilty at Reading Crown Court on Friday with Jonathan King’s brother-in-law Glenn Norcliffe, the firm’s accountant.

The court heard the two men lied to customers saying their cheques were in the post, and kept the cash for themselves.

Customers were sent cheques which either never arrived or bounced, while Norcliffe, of Marcuse Road, Caterham, Surrey, transferred £4,000 a month into his own account and £5,000 a month into King’s account, shared by his wife Beverley, 62.


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They stole between £100,000 and £250,000 between 2010 and 2012, when Cameo Fine Art Auctioneers in Midgham, Berkshire, collapsed.

Jonathan King, 66, was jailed for five years after he was found guilty of six counts of fraud and two of making false statements.

Norcliffe, 64, was jailed for four years after he was convicted of three counts of fraud by abuse of position and admitted a further count of fraud.

Beverley King was given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, and told to do 150 hours of unpaid work for money laundering.

Defending her husband, John Simmons said: “The couple have a 34-year-old son who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

“This is a man of previous good character.”

Judge Stephen John said: “These are serious offences, carried out with deliberation with substantial losses to innocent victims who were preyed upon in a cynical way.”