Airport taxi boss 'scammed customer out of £120,000 and splashed out on holidays, cars and a Japanese self-cleaning toilet', court hears
An airport taxi boss 'scammed his customer out of £120,000 and splashed out on flights, holidays and cars', a court has heard.
Russell Bleazard, 50, is also alleged to have bought three BMWs, a £4,000 Japanese self-cleaning toilet and a £1,500 sewing machine using the debit card details of a client without their knowledge.
He obtained the bank details of Thomas Kramer, then executive of toy company Seven Towns, legally when taking payment for chauffeuring.
However, he then went on to use the card details to transfer £85,000 to his own chauffeuring business' bank account, Regency Cars 4 Airports, before also purchasing more than £35,000 of goods and services for his family, a jury was told.
This is alleged to have included the self-cleaning toilet and bathroom fittings, as well as flights and holidays to South Africa, Spain and Cyprus.
The chauffeur is also alleged to have used the funds to replace or service his fleet of vehicles, including a Mercedes S-Class and BMWs.
Bleazard, of Budshead Road, Whitleigh, is standing trial at Plymouth Crown Court charged with two counts of fraud between January and August 2017.
His wife Jacqueline Bleazard, 51, of the same address, is also standing trial charged with laundering the cash through her husband’s firm, as the operator of the business account.
Russell Bleazard sat outside the Plymouth Crown Court on November 9. He denies two counts of fraud
Jacqueline Bleazard pictured leaving the Plymouth Crown and County Courts on November 9, where she is standing trial charged with laundering the cash through her husband’s firm, as the operator of the business account
The court heard how Mr Kramer, whose company developed and marketed several well-known toys including the Rubik's Cube, died aged 89 in June 2017.
The allegedly unauthorised payments were discovered by his son, David, when looking back through the toy company's bank statements following the death.
Bleazard has admitted using the card to fund, at least in part, trips abroad with his family.
The chauffeur, though, says every payment was made with Mr Kramer's permission.
He claims the toy boss was a 'philanthropist' who used to insist that he spend the money on his family and business.
Prosecutor Tom Bradnock, opening the case on Tuesday, said Mr Kramer used Bleazard and his employed drivers to take him from his home near Honiton, Devon, to London and around the country - paying for the service using the debit card.
Having obtained the card details properly, Bleazard then transferred money to his own company without their permission, the court heard.
Giving evidence in his own trial, Bleazard said he met Thomas Kramer in 2014 and the pair had become friendly during long trips to London.
He told the court: 'Tom was just very inquisitive, he wanted to know about our family, he just wanted to help. He was just a very kind philanthropist.'
The chauffeur (pictured) claims toy company director Thomas Kramer insisted he spent the money on his business and family, the court has heard
The husband and wife are standing trial at Plymouth Crown Court charged with fraud offences dating back to 2017
The defendant said Mr Kramer asked to help the business after two cars broke down on a trip taking him to the Lake District.
He told his customer about the costs of maintaining and replacing vehicles for the business, to which he claims Mr Kramer said he wanted to support him.
Bleazard added: 'I kept saying no at first but he was insistent. He was adamant that nobody else was to know, not even Jacqueline.'
He also claimed the toy boss agreed to help fund a trip to Cyprus to visit his stepdaughter when he mentioned she was working there.
Being questioned about the self-cleaning toilet, Bleazard said Mr Kramer had wanted one and purchased the Japanese lavatory from Amazon.
When it arrived at Bleazard's house in Plymouth, though, he said Mr Kramer changed his mind and insisted he keep it for himself.
The defendant said he did not know the card he was using was in the name of Mr Kramer, despite it drawing upon the same company account.
He also said he was not aware how much money he had taken from the account at the time.
The trial continues.
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