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| Fraud-accused Coventry councillor Philip Townshend never questioned | Fraud-accused Coventry councillor Philip Townshend never questioned |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An ex-deputy council leader accused of ripping off a vulnerable woman was never interviewed by police over the allegation, the BBC has learned. | |
| Coventry councillor Philip Townshend, who died last year, took out a mortgage on the elderly woman's house without her knowledge, a source said. | Coventry councillor Philip Townshend, who died last year, took out a mortgage on the elderly woman's house without her knowledge, a source said. |
| A relative branded the police inquiry "disgraceful". | A relative branded the police inquiry "disgraceful". |
| West Midlands Police defended its investigation but declined to say why no interview took place. | West Midlands Police defended its investigation but declined to say why no interview took place. |
| His daughter Kirstie Logan-Townshend, 26, refuted the allegation, and said police "made a mistake" by not interviewing him sooner as "he would have cooperated fully". | His daughter Kirstie Logan-Townshend, 26, refuted the allegation, and said police "made a mistake" by not interviewing him sooner as "he would have cooperated fully". |
| Mr Townshend was able to get the mortgage as he had been granted power of attorney over the homeowner, who was in her 70s, the BBC understands. | Mr Townshend was able to get the mortgage as he had been granted power of attorney over the homeowner, who was in her 70s, the BBC understands. |
| 'Whiter than white' | 'Whiter than white' |
| An allegation of irregularities in her finances was made in May 2015, said police, and the case given to an investigating officer in July. | An allegation of irregularities in her finances was made in May 2015, said police, and the case given to an investigating officer in July. |
| When Mr Townshend, a solicitor, died last October, aged 57, he had not been interviewed, a Freedom of Information (FoI) request revealed. | When Mr Townshend, a solicitor, died last October, aged 57, he had not been interviewed, a Freedom of Information (FoI) request revealed. |
| West Midlands Police said four officers had worked on the investigation, but would not explain why Mr Townshend had not been questioned. | West Midlands Police said four officers had worked on the investigation, but would not explain why Mr Townshend had not been questioned. |
| A relative of the woman said: "He should have been brought in at the first opportunity. | A relative of the woman said: "He should have been brought in at the first opportunity. |
| "He was being paid by the public purse and should have been whiter than white, holier than thou." | "He was being paid by the public purse and should have been whiter than white, holier than thou." |
| A source told the BBC Mr Townshend applied for equity release on the property, which was priced at £325,000 according to Land Registry documents. | A source told the BBC Mr Townshend applied for equity release on the property, which was priced at £325,000 according to Land Registry documents. |
| Mortgage papers and bank statements were held by police, according to an FoI request released after a BBC appeal. | Mortgage papers and bank statements were held by police, according to an FoI request released after a BBC appeal. |
| The documents show Mr Townshend benefitted to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds, a source said. | The documents show Mr Townshend benefitted to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds, a source said. |
| Before his death, Mr Townshend allegedly told a mortgage company which attempted to take possession of the home it would be vacant, even though the woman still lived there. | Before his death, Mr Townshend allegedly told a mortgage company which attempted to take possession of the home it would be vacant, even though the woman still lived there. |
| It ceased repossession proceedings when it was made aware of the alleged fraud, a source said. | It ceased repossession proceedings when it was made aware of the alleged fraud, a source said. |
| The councillor's former company, Townshends LLP solicitors, was wound up by court order and still had unpaid debts of more than £688,000. | The councillor's former company, Townshends LLP solicitors, was wound up by court order and still had unpaid debts of more than £688,000. |
| By March this year, liquidators had found "no areas for recovery", according to official documents. The firm's biggest creditor was HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). | By March this year, liquidators had found "no areas for recovery", according to official documents. The firm's biggest creditor was HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). |
| Police also had a warrant application to search Coventry City council house, but it is not known if the authority was searched. | Police also had a warrant application to search Coventry City council house, but it is not known if the authority was searched. |
| 'Background issues' | 'Background issues' |
| However, police said any suggestion of a "cover up" was "wholly inappropriate and does not reflect the complex and protracted nature of the investigation". | However, police said any suggestion of a "cover up" was "wholly inappropriate and does not reflect the complex and protracted nature of the investigation". |
| The force, which declined to provide further details of its investigations, said its inquiries covered "all relevant parties". | The force, which declined to provide further details of its investigations, said its inquiries covered "all relevant parties". |
| Ms Logan-Townshend said: "If police had not investigated, they would have faced scrutiny because he was a public figure. They raided my home as well. | Ms Logan-Townshend said: "If police had not investigated, they would have faced scrutiny because he was a public figure. They raided my home as well. |
| "I knew all his sides and this allegation would have been completely out of character." | "I knew all his sides and this allegation would have been completely out of character." |
| The Solicitor's Regulation Authority (SRA) began to investigate Mr Townshend in May 2015 but stopped when he died. A spokesperson said "no further work or action could be taken" now. | The Solicitor's Regulation Authority (SRA) began to investigate Mr Townshend in May 2015 but stopped when he died. A spokesperson said "no further work or action could be taken" now. |
| At an inquest in April this year, a coroner ruled Mr Townshend died of natural causes. | At an inquest in April this year, a coroner ruled Mr Townshend died of natural causes. |
| Mr Townshend became a councillor in 1999, served as a school governor and held the role of Chair of University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust for five years. | Mr Townshend became a councillor in 1999, served as a school governor and held the role of Chair of University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust for five years. |
| He is set to become the first recipient of a posthumous degree from the University of Warwick next month. | He is set to become the first recipient of a posthumous degree from the University of Warwick next month. |