A criminal case into alleged fraud by a bakery chain’s staff including its former director is to reach trial in 2026, a judge revealed today.
Chief financial officer of Patisseries Holdings plc Christopher Marsh, accountant Louise Marsh, financial controller Pritesh Mistry, and financial consultant Nileshkumar Lad appeared at Southwark Crown Court today but did not enter pleas.
Today’s hearing, which was listed as a plea and trial preparation, instead set out an agreed timetable before His Honour Judge Tomlinson.
The case, brought by the Serious Fraud Office, is fixed for 2 March 2026 and estimated to take 13 weeks.
A further case management hearing, where the defendants are expected to give their pleas, will be held next spring.
Former director of the SFO, Lisa Osofsky, previously described the financial failure of the chain of almost 200 high street bakeries as a ‘scandal’. She added in a statement earlier this year: ‘Patisserie Valerie’s abrupt collapse rocked our high streets - leaving boarded-up shops, devastating job losses and significant investor losses in its wake.’
