Alleged Patisserie Valerie fraudsters will not face trial until 2026

Four people accused of fraud after the collapse of bakery chain Patisserie Valerie will not face trial until 2026, Southwark Crown Court has heard.

Christopher Marsh, a former director and chief financial officer of Patisserie Holdings, the company behind Patisserie Valerie, and his wife, accountant Louise Marsh - both from St Albans - were charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Marsh’s former number two, financial controller Pritesh Mistry from Leicester, and financial consultant Nilesh Lad from Harrow, also face fraud charges.

An investigation was launched by the SFO in 2018 into a case which saw the bakery chain, which had 200 stores, tumble into administration with a £94 million hole in its accounts in 2019.

The four defendants sat in the dock at Southwark Crown Court, central London, on Tuesday, speaking only to confirm their names.

Christopher Marsh, 49, and Louise Marsh, 55, both from St Albans, Hertfordshire, Mistry, 41, from Leicester, and Lad, 50, from Harrow, north-west London, all face charges of conspiracy to defraud.

Christopher Marsh, Mistry and Lad also face five charges of fraud by false representation and one of making or supplying an article for use in fraud.

Christopher Marsh also faces a charge of making false representations as a company director.

None of the defendants were asked to enter any pleas on Tuesday.

All four were granted conditional bail and ordered not to contact each other, except for Christopher and Louise Marsh, who live together.

They will appear at the same court on April 26 next year to enter pleas and are scheduled for trial on March 2 2026.