Estate agent from hell

Jun 7 2005 By Catherine Hendrick, Evening Mail

CROOKED estate agent Marios Antoniou was today starting a two-and-a-half year jail sentence for conning two women out of more than £125,000 after tricking them with bogus property deals.

His furious victims, Anne Archer and Zahida Parveyne, said the sentence on Antoniou was nothing compared to the "life sentence" they were now enduring.

They claimed that Antoniou, who ran Manor Estate Agents in Kings Heath and Bearwood, had wrecked their lives.

Antoniou, 44, of Hagley Road, Edgbaston, admitted six charges of obtaining money by deception between April and November 2004.

Wolverhampton Crown Court Judge Michael Dudley said: "You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence involving large sums of money.

"The first offence involved a client, the second someone who appears to have been a friend.

"Both suffered a serious loss by you being thoroughly dishonest. The only mitigation, it seems, is that you have pleaded guilty."

Dorothy Seddon, prosecuting, said Antoniou persuaded his first victim, property investor Zaheda Parveyne, to hand over £15,000 in April 2004. He had promised to sell her a house in Murdoch Road, Handsworth.

Five months later the sale still hadn't gone through and, despite repeated requests, Antoniou had failed to return her money.

Miss Parveyne eventually discovered that the property she was interested in buying had never been up for sale. Its owner, Stanley Hughes, had died and although his son had asked Manor Estate Agents to value the house they had never been given instructions to sell it.

Miss Parveyne called police and Antoniou was arrested and questioned on October 26.

At first Antoniou tried to claim the deal had been "a private sale" and that he had a "verbal agreement" to sell. He also claimed he intended to pay the money back.

The court was also told Antoniou stole almost £115,000 from his second victim, Anne Archer, after promising to buy her a house at auction.

Miss Archer, from Handsworth, transferred £80,000 to Antoniou in April 2004 after re-mortgaging her home. He told her he had put the money in an Indian bank account "for better interest".

In August Antoniou told Miss Archer that her money had made £20,000, but to "release the profit" he needed another £10,000. She gave him the money, plus almost £25,000 "for legal fees".

When there was no sign of her money she went to police and Antoniou was arrested again on December 14.

Anthony Johnson, defending, said Antoniou took the money to prop up a failing business, and was now remorseful.