Farrell admitted four charges of fraud A former contestant on The Apprentice who altered mortgage applications to boost his earnings has been given a suspended sentence for fraud.
Christopher Farrell, 29, inflated clients’ incomes to help them secure loans and earn himself commission.
The mortgage broker pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud by false representation in December.
Farrell, of Upton, Wirral, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Plymouth Crown Court.
The former Royal Marine, who was fired in week eight of the last series of the BBC programme, was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Farrell was arrested last August after a bank discovered the fraud.
He tried to blame his colleagues for forging documents, but quickly admitted his guilt before magistrates in Plymouth.
After his admission, magistrates decided their powers of sentencing were insufficient and committed Farrell to Crown Court to be sentenced.
Farrell worked as a mortgage and insurance adviser with the company Mortgages for Plymouth between November 2007 and August 2009.
He admitted altering P60 forms and payslips and creating fake documents to ensure his clients’ mortgage applications were successful – thereby achieving his monthly target.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.