Mildenhall woman lied about bungalow ownership, court hears

A woman from Mildenhall has been found guilty of fraudulently claiming she owned a bungalow.

Anne Kermode-Hutchinson, 68, of Rowan Walk, had told a solicitor that the property had been given to her by her former partner who then became her tenant.

Yesterday (Tuesday) a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found Kermode-Hutchinson guilty of fraud by false representation.

Judge John Devaux adjourned sentencing until next month to allow the preparation of a report by the Probation Service and warned that all sentencing options remained open to the court.

Prosecuting, Charles Kellett said that until 2011 Kermode-Hutchinson had been living with her then partner David Hutchinson at the bungalow he shared with his father in Warren Road, Red Lodge.

Previously Mr Hutchinson had named Kermode-Hutchinson and her son as executors and main beneficiaries but when their relationhip ended he changed the terms to leave the bungalow to his own children, said Mr Kellett.

Following the sudden death of Mr Hutchinson in September 2013, a letter was sent by Kermode-Hutchinson to a solicitor acting on behalf of his children in which she alleged that the bungalow had been given to her.

Kermode-Hutchinson also claimed that Mr Hutchinson had signed an agreement to be her tenant.

Mr Kellett said the solicitor was suspicious about the claims made in the letter and alerted the police, resulting in the arrest of Kermode-Hutchinson last November.

Kermode-Hutchinson denied acting fraudulently and said she had not claimed that she was the owner of the bungalow, the jury heard.