Bank manager Owen Danter stole £130k from East Yorkshire customers to live high life
A DETECTIVE has accused a well-known bank manager of a "huge breach of trust" for fleecing customers out of more than £130,000.
Owen Danter, 33, stole from customers in their eighties and nineties to fund his champagne lifestyle.
Danter, former deputy chairman of the Beverley and Holderness Conservatives, stole the money while working as a bank manager at the Santander branch in Driffield.
Danter, of Copandale Road, Beverley, took the money in 27 installments from the accounts of five elderly women and from the bank's cash machine between 2007 and 2011.
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He stole £130,022, including £68,969 from one victim and £17,349 from another.
Detective Sergeant John Meagher said Danter, the former joint chairman of Beverley And District Chamber Of Trade, targeted elderly customers deliberately.
DS Meagher said: "He has been living a lifestyle he couldn't possibly cope with on his finances and that is what has driven him to pick on the elderly because he thought they wouldn't notice the money going missing.
"He has picked on his weakest customers. He has been living the high life and spending the money on expensive drinks such as champagne.
"It was a huge breach of trust. Whenever someone has a position of trust looking after people's money, that trust has to be rock solid. He has let his customers down."
DS Meagher said Danter hoped to pay back the stolen money before his clients noticed.
He said: "As his spending got worse and worse, the option to pay it back slowly diminished."
Danter was branch manager of the Alliance & Leicester in Market Place, Driffield, before continuing in the post when it was taken over by Santander last year.
Danter was often seen around Beverley dressed in sharp suits and driving luxury cars.
The net closed in on him when the bank received a complaint and called in auditors to check for abnormalities.
Danter discovered they were coming and was reported missing on July 8 by his family on the day auditors were turning up at the bank.
He attempted suicide and left a note for his family and the bank confessing to taking funds for his own use, adding: "The ATM will be down by £15,000."
However, police found him in his green Land Rover in North Yorkshire.
Danter has pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to nine counts of theft and the Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear has called for reports.
The bank has fully reimbursed the victims, who had not realised their money had been stolen, and Danter is due to be sentenced next month.
Update: Owen Danter jailed
Comments
by freddiec
Monday, March 05 2012, 3:50PM
“I also know Owen and have done for years. He is arrogant, selfish and will trample on anyone to get what he wants. He has the most delusional sense of self importance and I hope he gets his just desserts.
If anyone wants to know what the money has gone on, google kirkbourne gundogs. And he was never seen without the best tweed shooting breeks etc. . . . . .
His parents must be so proud.”
by Mark_Hull_65
Monday, March 05 2012, 1:14PM
“"...why shouldn't this cheat have all of his assets stripped to help pay the money back? "
I would think he will either by the proceeds of crime legislation or by a civil action by the bank.”
by ghjghjghjghjg
Monday, March 05 2012, 11:17AM
“No doubt this scumbag was the toast of the town as well hahaha. People would have been whispering "ohh isn't he doing well" and they will have been gushing with irrational respect for a person because it appears they have money than everyone else.
But no, yet another conman and thief. Still, at least he was involved with the political party that respects the traits that this liar has displayed.
Of course the bank should replace the stolen funds but why shouldn't this cheat have all of his assets stripped to help pay the money back? That's assuming he actually owns anything and hasn't stolen it.
These types always show the gravest remorse when they are caught and I don't doubt it's sincere, but the problem with these crackpots is that as soon as the opportunity arises once again, they cannot help but dip their fingers in the till.
Hopefully no-one will be naive enough to employ him after his "stretch."”
by Mysti1
Monday, March 05 2012, 9:01AM
“Oh keepontrying how very naive. Do you think this thief deserves a second chance to get on with his life without some form of punishment for stealing from people? I bet you'd be saying differently if you or your mother had been the victim of his deceipt.”
by keepontrying
Monday, March 05 2012, 12:24AM
“What a pity so many people have negative coments to make. What sad lives you must all have!.Get a life and realise he's trying to make a new start to his life and needs support and help.The real problems in our society are those people who have no regard for life ( Drunk drivers etc) let them rot in prison! So Owen no matter what certain narrow minded people say here I hope you ignore them and move on with your life.”
by prood
Sunday, March 04 2012, 3:23PM
“Owen Danter is the real life frank out of corrie. ya know carlas ex.”
by TheEmperor
Sunday, March 04 2012, 12:38AM
“"Thankyou for enriching my vocabulary"
A pleasure, Roversreturn. Thank you for making me LOL.”
by Roversreturn
Sunday, March 04 2012, 12:24AM
“Quote The people who are defending this feculent parasite on here want locking up as well.
The english language is so rich that one word can replace a whole blog.
Feculent is my word of the week.
Thankyou for enriching my vocabulary.”
by Roversreturn
Saturday, March 03 2012, 2:16AM
“deep”
by Mark_Hull_65
Saturday, March 03 2012, 1:27AM
“Like I said prood, you're an idiot.
Lose, loose, loss.
Buy a dictionary.”