A London consultancy boss who played for a top French rugby academy as a teenager has appeared in court accused of fraud. Sam Ballard-Robinson, 33, wore a tweed jacket as he stood in front of the dock at Croydon Magistrates Court on Friday (August 29), facing one count of fraud by false representation and a second count of making an article for use in fraud.
Ballard-Robinson, of Thirsk in Yorkshire, was arraigned on both charges but did not enter a plea. The court clerk read from the charge sheet, which alleges Ballard-Robinson ‘created a legal letter purporting to be from HCR Law intending to make gain, namely a sum of £29,111.91’ and ‘made an article, namely a fake legal letter’. HCR Law is a solicitors’ firm based in the City of London.
After rejecting an application to adjourn the case, magistrates told Ballard-Robinson the case could only be heard in the Crown Court. It means the case will be heard for plea and trial preparation at Inner London Crown Court on September 26 this year. Ballard-Robinson was released on unconditional bail.
Ballard-Robinson played academy rugby for Parisian rugby team Racing Métro 92 in 2010, according to a local paper in North Yorkshire. The profile in York Press described then-18-year-old Ballard-Robinson as a ‘rugby union ace’ who played hooker for various teams in Yorkshire, including the county side.
Ballard-Robinson is the managing director of Falsum Consulting Limited, which describes itself as a ‘Customs & Trade consultancy that is digital by design’. The company website says Ballard-Robinson used to be a manager at Deloitte and graduated from the University of Birmingham.
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