London SE1 community website

Community service for woman who advertised fake jobs at Elephant & Castle

London SE1 website team

40-year-old Michelle Rowe has been sentenced to a 16 week suspended sentence and 148 hours of community service after being found guilty of four counts of fraud by false representation.

Michelle Rowe
Michelle Rowe "preyed on vulnerable young adults" says the police officer who investigated the fraud

Through her company Arlington Network, based at the London South Bank University Technopark in London Road near Elephant & Castle, Rowe advertised non-existent job vacancies for trainee housing officers.

Candidates were interviewed before being told that they had to pay £400 to complete a course to secure their position.

These positions never materialised, Arlington Network ceased to exist and Rowe set up a new company called Career For Life based in Bromley.

Her victims traced her to the new company address where the applicants confronted her and asked to be reimbursed. Rowe issued them with cheques which she cancelled before they could be cashed.

Police were contacted in January 2010 by one of her victims, a 24-year-old woman from Harrow, who became suspicious when she was contacted by her bank to be told Rowe's cheque had bounced.

Three other victims came forward after the police began their investigation.

"Rowe was ordered to pay back the £400 to the four victims," says Detective Constable Lisa Linsley from Harrow CID.

"The magistrate took into account the fact that she has no previous convictions otherwise he indicated that he would have imposed a custodial sentence.

"Rowe is a calculating individual who preyed on vulnerable young adults who were keen to find employment. She showed no remorse during interview or during the trial.

"Please be wary, when applying for jobs, of unscrupulous people who are looking to take advantage."

The SE1 website is supported by people like you
We are part of
Independent Community News Network
Email newsletter

For the latest local news and events direct to your inbox every Monday, you need our weekly email newsletter SE1 Direct.

Archive
News archive from February 1999 to January 2001
Got a story for us?
Contact us with your tip-offs and story ideas.