Jury to continue deliberating in fraud trial of former academy chief executive

The jury at Lincoln Crown Court spent all of Monday and Tuesday deliberating without reaching verdicts.

The jury is not scheduled to sit tomorrow (Wednesday) and at the end of today’s court session Judge Michael Heath adjourned the case until Thursday.

Richard Gilliland, who headed up the Federation until quitting shortly before the findings of an investigation were published, is alleged to have abused his position by giving a job to his son Kia Richardson at Laughton Manor equestrian centre, near Sleaford, despite Mr Richardson having previously served a jail sentence for flashing offences.

He is also alleged to have used Federation funds for his own purposes and for the benefit of his son.

The Federation’s former finance director Stephen Davies is also alleged to have abused his position to defraud the organisation.

Richard Gilliland, 65, who now lives in Spain, denies seven charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

Stephen Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, also denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

The trial, which is currently in its tenth week, began on November 10, last year.