Romford Market Boss Admits £208k Fraud – Havering, 2026

Key Points

• Akinremi Akintokunbo, former assistant manager at Romford Market, admitted to fraudulently obtaining £208,700 from Havering Council.
• He processed 133 unauthorised refund transactions to himself using a council-issued chip and PIN device between March 2 and December 5, 2024.
• Akintokunbo pleaded guilty to one count of fraud under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on June 30, 2026.
• The case has been sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing, with a hearing scheduled for July 2026.
• Havering Council confirmed the fraud involved taxpayers’ money and stated that internal investigations and external audits were underway.

Romford (East London Times) July 4, 2026 — A former assistant market manager employed by Havering Council has admitted defrauding the authority of more than £208,000 through a series of unauthorised refund transactions processed using a council-issued payment device.

Akinremi Akintokunbo, who worked at Romford Market, entered a guilty plea to a single count of fraud under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 during a hearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on June 30, 2026. The case has since been transferred to Snaresbrook Crown Court, where sentencing is expected to take place later this month.

What happened in the Romford Market fraud case?

According to court documents and council statements, Akintokunbo carried out 133 fraudulent refund transactions to his own account between March 2 and December 5, 2024.

The total value of the unauthorised refunds was £208,700. Each transaction was processed using a Havering Council chip and PIN device, which he was authorised to use only for legitimate market-related refund operations.

As reported by the East London Times, the fraud was uncovered following an internal review of transaction logs and financial records at the council.

The review identified a pattern of irregular refund activity traced back to Akintokunbo’s access credentials and device usage.

How was the fraud discovered and investigated?

Havering Council’s internal audit team first flagged the suspicious refund activity during a routine financial reconciliation exercise in early 2025.

The council’s fraud investigation unit then launched a formal inquiry, working alongside external forensic accountants to trace the flow of funds and verify the legitimacy of each transaction.

According to a statement released by Havering Council,

“The council takes all allegations of fraud extremely seriously. We have robust systems in place to detect and prevent financial misconduct, and we work closely with law enforcement to ensure that those who abuse their positions are held to account.”

The council also confirmed that Akintokunbo was suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. His employment was subsequently terminated following his admission of guilt.

What did the court hear about Akintokunbo’s actions?

During the hearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, prosecutors outlined how Akintokunbo had exploited his position of trust to process refunds that were not authorised by council policy.

The refunds were directed to bank accounts under his control, and no legitimate basis for the transactions existed.

As reported by The Havering Daily, the prosecution stated that Akintokunbo

“dishonestly abused his position as an assistant market manager to make unauthorised refund payments to himself, thereby causing a significant financial loss to the council and, by extension, to local taxpayers.”

Akintokunbo offered no defence during the hearing and entered a guilty plea to the single charge of fraud. The magistrates’ court then committed the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing, citing the seriousness of the offence and the substantial sum involved.

What response has Havering Council given?

In a public statement, Havering Council emphasised its commitment to financial integrity and transparency. A council spokesperson said,

“We are disappointed that a former employee has admitted to defrauding the council of a significant sum of money. We have taken immediate action to recover the funds and have strengthened our internal controls to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The council also noted that it has a dedicated fraud and whistleblowing hotline for residents and staff to report suspected misconduct.

According to the council’s website, allegations of fraud can be reported confidentially via phone, email, or an online referral form.

What are the next steps in the legal process?

With Akintokunbo having pleaded guilty, the case will now proceed to the sentencing stage at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place in July 2026, where a judge will consider the severity of the fraud, the amount involved, and any mitigating or aggravating factors before determining an appropriate sentence.

Sentencing guidelines for fraud offences under the Fraud Act 2006 indicate that offences involving sums over £100,000 typically result in custodial sentences ranging from several years to over a decade, depending on the circumstances.

Background to the development

Romford Market, operated by Havering Council, is one of the largest traditional markets in East London, serving thousands of visitors each week.

The market generates significant revenue for the borough through stall rentals, licensing fees, and associated commerce.

Assistant market managers like Akintokunbo are responsible for overseeing daily operations, including customer service, vendor relations, and financial transactions such as refunds and fee collections.

The use of chip and PIN devices for processing refunds is a standard practice across UK local authorities, designed to ensure secure and traceable financial transactions.

However, the Akintokunbo case highlights the potential for misuse when individuals with access to such systems act dishonestly.

Havering Council has previously dealt with other fraud cases involving employees and residents. In recent years, the council has reported convictions for benefit fraud, council tax evasion, and procurement misconduct.

The authority maintains a dedicated fraud prevention team and regularly publishes updates on its anti-fraud measures.

Prediction: How might this development affect local residents and council operations?

The admission of fraud by a senior market employee is likely to have several implications for Havering Council and the local community.

Firstly, residents may expect increased scrutiny of council financial processes, with potential delays or additional verification steps for routine transactions such as refunds or fee payments.

Secondly, the case could prompt a broader review of internal controls across all council departments, particularly those handling cash or electronic payments.

This may lead to tighter access restrictions, enhanced audit trails, and more frequent financial reconciliations.

Thirdly, the reputational impact on Romford Market and Havering Council more generally could affect public trust.

Local businesses and market traders may seek reassurances that their financial interactions with the council are secure and that any losses incurred as a result of fraud will not be passed on to them through increased fees or charges.

Finally, the outcome of the sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court will be closely watched by other local authorities and fraud prevention agencies.

A robust sentence could serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders, while also reinforcing the message that public sector fraud will be met with serious legal consequences.

For now, Havering Council has reiterated its commitment to recovering the misappropriated funds and ensuring that such breaches of trust do not recur.

The council’s fraud hotline remains active, and residents are encouraged to report any suspicions of financial misconduct.