A DODGY accountant said to have plundered half a million pounds from the Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa is now disputing the amount.
At a previous court hearing in March, Reading Crown Court was told Alida Ludewig’s greed had a “catastrophic” effect on the family-owned business.
Ludewig was working as a management accountant at the hotel, spa and golf club when she began using two company credit cards for personal use – mainly on Amazon orders, Just Eat, fine wines and Domino's Pizza deliveries.
Brian Reece, prosecuting, said that it was estimated that Ludewig has spent a staggering £543,782 over four years between April 2018 and December 2022.
He added: “This is a very substantial sum and this had been going for a long period of time, with catastrophic consequences for the company, as it turns out."
Fifty-year-old Ludewig, of Corfe Way in Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted one count of fraud and sentencing was adjourned until Tuesday, June 25.
But at Tuesday’s crown court hearing Claire Evans, defending, said her client now wished to challenge the “guestimate” sum alleged by the prosecution.
Mr Reece said the prosecution remained adamant that their figures were a true reflection of Ludewig’s profligacy and added: “It’s unthinkable that a business like this would be buying things, item by item, from Amazon.”
Judge Neil Millard said: “If there’s an indication from [Ludewig] that the true figure has been inflated, there will have to be a Newton hearing.”
A Newton hearing is a mini trial to establish facts.
Judge Millard added: “A finding of fact will be made and that will be the end of the matter.”
He adjourned the case for the hearing to be arranged and Ludewig was meanwhile released again on unconditional bail.
