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Ten charged after fraud team investigation into Grenfell fire alarms firm
Ten people have been charged following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s complex fraud team into the contractor responsible for checking fire alarms in Grenfell Tower.
Lakehouse was under investigation following an allegation of fraud in 2014 by Hackney Council related to defective fire safety work, including incorrectly installed alarms and emergency lighting systems.
These works, according to a letter – seen by Inside Housing – from Hackney mayor Philip Glanville to local authority chief executives last July, were carried out by Lakehouse through a subcontractor, Polyteck.
Mr Glanville’s letter read: “The allegedly defective work was carried out for Hackney Homes, the council’s ALMO, in 2011. In 2014, the council’s anti-fraud team received allegations of fraud and overcharging in relation to works carried out by Lakehouse.”
It was following these allegations that the council uncovered the alleged defective work and informed the police.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to Inside Housing that it has charged 10 individuals “who were employed, as part of the supply chain, to carry out work within the London Borough of Hackney”.
Of these, Lee David Wylie, 46, of Royston Avenue, Basildon, Essex, was previously a divisional manager at Lakehouse. He was charged with bribery and theft.
Sarah Kipping, 46, of the same address, was charged with money laundering.
Andrew Langston, 40, of Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton, Essex, is the managing director of contractor Inteck Solutions. He was also charged with bribery and theft.
Josephine Ashley-Russell, 37, of the same address, was charged with money laundering, as was Leslie Ratty, 67, of Bradford Street, Braintree.
Also charged with bribery and theft were Stephen Ellis, 49, of Rennie Walk, Maldon, Essex, who was a director of North South Energy Limited, Richard Lee, 43, of Prentice Place, Coggeshall, Essex, and Mark Middleton, 51, of Beech Avenue, Ruislip.
Costantinos Polycarpou, 40, managing director of Polyteck, and his father Yiannakis, 63, the company chair, were charged with bribery.
All 10 will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 6 November.
A Polyteck source told Inside Housing that the company had never done any work on Grenfell Tower or for Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council.
They also said there was no suggestion that Polyteck had undertaken any defective works.
