League Honorary Treasurer Resigns After Fraud Charge   You are here: Home » News Detail

Malcolm Barber

An Honorary Treasurer of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition appeared in court last week charged with fraud of up to £5million which allegedly saw dozens of pensioners defrauded.

Malcolm Barber is one of two defendants charged with fleecing 127 investors through a business called Gentry Investment Trust.

Alongside his role with the Merseyside league, the 69-year old was made vice-president of the Lancashire Cricket Board earlier this year and also works for the Merseyside Cricket Umpires Association as the discipline secretary.

Since the charge, Barber has subsequently resigned from his role at the Liverpool and District Competition, and the league made this statement on their website: “The L&DCC has announced the resignation with immediate effect of the Hon Treasurer, Malcolm Barber. The resignation also includes other capacities in which he serves the L&DCC.”

The charges Barber faces, do not relate to his various cricketing roles.

A letter from Barber’s solicitor that has been posted on the New Brighton Cricket Club website states: “Our client vehemently denies the allegations.”

Barber, who is a committee member at New Brighton, shows his plea intention in the letter which adds: “Our Instructions are that not guilty pleas will be entered at the next hearing in March and that this matter will be fought to the bitter end as Mr Barber intends to prove his innocence.”

He is jointly-charged with Morecambe businessman Terry Warrington.

It is alleged the men committed money laundering amounting to just under £5m between March 2002 and August 2010.

They are also accused of conspiracy to defraud between 1999 and 2010 and failing to register with the Financial Services Authority between 2001 and 2010.