Steven Judd secured a £25,000 loan to pay credit card debts

by Julia Roberts

An account manager who forged his wife's signature to commit mortgage fraud has avoided being sent to prison.

Steven Judd increased his mortgage by obtaining a £25,000 loan in 2006 to pay credit card debts. But his wife Tracey only discovered his deception when she started divorce proceedings last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mrs Judd also learned she was jointly liable for the loan, which was still outstanding.

She was advised by the bank to contact the police. Judd told her he had tricked her by getting her to sign an agreement.

The father-of-four admitted obtaining a money transfer by deception. Sentencing had been adjourned after Judge Philip Statman was told Mrs Judd had been informed in writing she would not be financially disadvantaged when their former marital home is sold.

But when she indicated from the public gallery she had not received such a letter, the judge asked for written proof of his promise be put before him.

Evidence of an "email trail" and other documents were handed to the court and Judge Statman imposed a 16-week jail term, suspended for two years.

He said he accepted the 40-year-old had "come clean" and shown genuine remorse.

But he added Judd, of Ospringe Street, Ospringe, Faversham, had not only deceived his now ex-wife but had left her in fear of financial problems herself.

"You acted at a time, I accept, when you were in debt. You had spent too much money on credit cards and could not repay the sums.

"But you lied and deceived your wife. You did not put her fully in the picture as to the extent of your financial difficulties.

"The impact upon you has been considerable and the impact upon your ex-wife has been considerable. She has had to live with your dishonesty and have over her head the fear that at the end of the marriage she would be substantially in a far less favourable position than she would have been."

Judd was also ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work, pay £200 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

The court heard the couple were together for 18 years and married for 14.

Mrs Judd moved into her husband's home in Cyprus Road, Faversham, and was placed on the mortgage in 1988.

Prosecutor Keith Yardy said Judd, who works for vehicle tracking company Trafficmaster, paid the mortgage while his wife paid other household expenses.

Mrs Judd became concerned because she did not see any mortgage statements. Judd told her not to call the bank and he would deal with it.

"She was not suspicious at that stage," said Mr Yardy. "Things came to a head in 2012 when she began divorce proceedings."

It was then that she discovered the £25,000 was outstanding, having been taken out in July 2006.

Steven Judd was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court

When interviewed by police, Judd admitted he ran into trouble with credit cards and could not face telling his wife. He copied her signature for the mortgage forms.

The prosecutor said there was no application for compensation because the amount would be realised when the house sale was completed.

Leon Kazakos, defending, said Judd had not previously put a foot wrong in life and had made full admissions to the offence.

Because of the frailty of the marriage, he had not be able to bring himself to tell his wife he was in debt. He was earning £27,500 a year with a top-up bonus.

He relied on the bonus but it was not always forthcoming and he built up debt. The money was simply spent on providing for their family.

"He has already agreed that his share of the property will be reduced so that she is not financially disadvantaged," said Mr Kazakos. "That is the action of a properly remorseful man."