Finance boss's wife reliant on food banks after fraud case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 12:44 · Archive

The wife of a finance boss accused of stealing £1.1m from his employer is left using food banks after a six-year court fight.

Mohammed Asif Khan, 48, a finance boss at North of England Coachworks, the north east's biggest vehicle bodyshop, was accused of stealing around £1.1m of company money during his time there until 2019. The company alleged he spent £160,000 of this on payments to escorts, including £1,000-an-hour call girl Gemma Massey.

In 2024, Khan agreed to pay the company £500,000 to settle the civil claim against him, accepting that he owed the money 'in respect of the frauds and fraudulent breaches of trust as alleged against him in this action'. However, the company is continuing to pursue the matter further.

Khan's wife Louise, 47, has been dragged into the case amid allegations that money may have been diverted to businesses she owns. When the case returned to court this week, her barrister Gordon Menzies told a judge that she is jobless and in 'acute financial difficulty', having been forced to rely on food banks as a result of the six-year court battle.

How it is being reported

• Wife of finance boss who agreed to pay company £500k after 'stealing' £1.1m and spending £160K on escorts is 'left using food banks' after his six-year court fightDad-of-two Mohammed Asif Khan, 48, was accused of 'stealing' around £1.1m while working for North of England Coachworks - the north east's biggest vehicle bodyshop.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 12:31
• Wife of finance boss sued for blowing £160k on prostitutes left 'relying on food banks' after court fightMohammed Asif Khan was accused of spending about £160,000 of the missing cash on payments to escortsThe Independent · 27 Oct, 09:26

In this story: Mohammed Asif Khan · Louise Khan · Gemma Massey · North of England Coachworks · Newcastle · Gordon Menzies

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem