Thetford Conservative Club Fraud Probe Ends No Charges Filed

Ken Parker and Mick Holland were arrested last summer. Police suspected them of fraud after they resigned from the Conservative Club. The club believed the pair cheated them out of £45,000. Police raided their homes as part of an investigation.

The police found no evidence of fraud, and Parker and Holland are now cleared after months of stress. They reviewed all the club’s finances.

The club banned them for life anyway and might sue them later in court in a separate civil action. Parker, 73, and Holland, 67, want an apology, saying the club hurt their reputations.

Parker and Holland resigned in May 2023. They were chairman and secretary for nine years. Their health had been declining, and they believed younger people should take over.

Parker noticed a strange feeling among members. Friends seemed unable to look at him. Then, the following year, police searched their homes in May and arrested them for fraud. They went to the police station. The new club members made accusations, alleging that Parker and Holland took £45,000. Police checked their records.

The issue stems from construction work at the club. Performed by Parker and Holland, this included renovations to the kitchen and toilets, along with the addition of new lighting.

Parker, an electrician, and Holland did most of the work for free as the “maintenance team,” only paying themselves for major jobs. The payments totaled £45,000 over nine years, covering their labor and other workers. The pair said they saved the club money and that it was in bad shape beforehand.

Parker stated that the committee approved all work. While they did not approve each payment specifically, he thinks that caused suspicion, as no one asked him to explain the records.

Police called Parker on Christmas Eve and reported the dropped fraud case after seven months. He could not contact Holland during the probe, nor could he visit the club. Parker felt humiliated and said they ruined his reputation in town. He wants a fresh start, and the ban from the club upset them.

Parker’s wife, Lou, was also banned. She worked at the club’s bar and said others ignored her during this time, which made her miserable.

Holland lives alone with two tortoises. He waited for the investigation to end. He could not use his phone when police took it, making even simple tasks like ordering takeout difficult.

The police dropped the fraud investigation, and Parker and Holland were never charged. Police confirmed in a December 2023 report that they arrested both men. No further action will occur.

The club may still pursue civil action, seeking money for damages. Advised by their lawyer not to comment, they want compensation from Parker and Holland.

The pair are sure they will win. Parker said the probe proved their innocence.