A MAN accused of duping pensioners out of thousands of pounds for funeral plans claims he never acted dishonestly.

Mark Kerbey, 55, of Station Road, Westcliff, denies three counts of fraud by misrepresentation after three people claimed he took money for funerals which were not arranged.

The court heard Kerbey, also known as Richard Sage, met with them separately and went through detailed negotiations and discussions to plan their funerals.

The offences are all alleged to have taken place between August 2012 and October 2014.

Yesterday, Kerbey took the stand in his own defence at Basildon Crown Court.

The court heard Kerbey’s company Mayer Funeral Homes was forced into liquidation when Kerbey was sent to prison for unrelated fraud offences in October 2014.

He also had a prior conviction for fraud in November 2012.

Kerbey, who appeared in the witness box on crutches and with one arm in a sling, was previously handed a four-and-a-half year prison sentence for six unconnected counts of fraud by misrepresentation.

He claims this meant he was unable to complete the funerals his company had taken payment for but that there were staff that could have done so.

Sarah O’Kane, defending, said: “When you were imprisoned in 2014, what did you think would happen with the pre-existing arrangements?”

Kerbey told the court there were only two and that both had been completely arranged.

He added: “If anything happened to me, there was another person who had experience who could quite easily arrange a funeral.

“Nothing was left in a mess.” The prosecution told the court when the victims had attempted to make enquiries about their funeral arrangements with the company that took over, there was no record of their plans or their payment and it was alleged Kerbey had wiped the file before being imprisoned.

He said: “I did not wipe the files.

“I didn’t even know I was going to be sent to prison.”

Kerbey told the court he had asked for the files from Mayer Funeral Homes in the lead up to this latest trial but had been told they did not exist.

He added: “I was surprised because there were nearly 200 files of plans.

“And, even if Penrose had taken over, that information would be valuable to them.

“I wanted them to prove that everything was in place.

“There was no intention to ever just take the money.

“Why would I do that?  “I was trying to get back on the straight and narrow.

“If I hadn’t gone to prison, they would’ve been carried out.”

The trial continues today at the cour