The finance boss who lured clients into a 'guaranteed' investment scheme left a trail of misery in his wake.

To the outside world, David Atkinson was a respected neighbourhood accountant who had operated his own firm in Heywood for nearly 25 years.

Many of his clients counted him as a friend as well as trusted advisor.

He attended one customer's wedding and was named next of kin when one of his elderly clients required hospital treatment.

But instead he is thought to have conned more than 100 people into sinking millions in a make-believe scheme supposedly exploiting tax loopholes.

Addiction

Instead of investing the money, he was using the cash to fuel an uncontrollable gambling addiction.

Atkinson ripped off clients regardless of their circumstances - cheating pensioners, cancer patients and friends out of their life savings.

Victims Ken, 55, and Lynda Williams, 56, had used the accountant for several years and had counted him a friend.

Ken, a warehouse supervisor, said: “He had been doing my tax returns for years. After a while he suggested an investment. David was from the north-east originally, the same as me, so we had a lot to talk about.

“We got a couple of returns from him and things seemed to be going well, so we invested more. It was devastating when we learned it had all been lost.”

Crooked accountant drove victim to early grave

The Middleton couple must now re-mortgage their home after losing £33,000.

An elderly couple who gave £80,000 of their life savings to the accountant also told the M.E.N. how they now had to abandon modest retirement plans and were now counting the pennies.

One of the retired investors said: “Every time I see a holiday advertised I go into a rage for 10 minutes. We didn't have big plans but just wanted to be comfortable. He has taken it all away.”

Atkinson was charged with offences totalling £2.5m. Many victims contacted detectives but did not give statements for fear of embarrassment or because they were simply resigned to losing the cash.

After his crimes were exposed, Atkinson arranged to hand himself to police and co-operated with the complex inquiry.

Atkinson's lawyer said he felt 'deep and genuine remorse' for his actions and had made a failed suicide attempt.

Benjamin Lawrence, defending, said: “He thought he could win his clients money back. It was a frankly ridiculous idea. But as with all theses schemes it spiralled out of control.”

Theft and dishonesty

Bolton Crown Court heard how Atkinson, who had previous convictions for theft and dishonesty, voluntarily placed himself in a rehab centre for those suffering from gambling addiction.

Judge William Morris received letters in mitigation from the accountant's wife and sons as well as the minister of Spotland Methodist Church who said he forgave Atkinson, the former church treasurer, for stealing more than £200,000 of funds.

But the judge ruled the amount of money stolen and degree of trust abused placed Atkinson's crime amongst the worst type of theft offences.

He said: “The offences were planned. You deliberately targeted those who trusted you as previous clients and were in that way vulnerable.”

Proceedings are now under way to recover cash from Atkinson, who has since been declared bankrupt, although police believe more than £1m was frittered away on internet gambling sites.