Robert Ross, who served as the BAR Financial Controller until early last year, appeared at St. Albans Crown Court today (16 July 2012) on a total of six charges of theft of money from BAR and the Movers Trading Club and false accounting.

The hearing was attended by the BAR Director General Stephen Vickers, James Falkner, Chris Waymouth and John Luxford.

Mr. Ross pleaded guilty to five out of the six charges including the theft of £312,341. Judge Griffith, presiding, said that he did not expect there would be a trial on the charge to which Mr. Ross pleaded not guilty.  He adjourned the hearing until Friday 24 August and remanded Mr. Ross on bail pending a pre-sentence report.  He did advise Mr. Ross to put his affairs in order and that he should expect a long custodial sentence that would not be suspended.