Baxter Todd boss expresses "deep regret"

THE BOSS of a Warwick town centre letting agents has admitted his “deep regret” over its closure but insisted all clients had - or would - be returned money they were owed in full.

Last week we revealed how landlady Alma Coleman had been left almost £1,000 out of pocket after Baxter Todd shut up shop in Market Place.

Since the story ran we have been contacted by several other former clients of the company, claiming they too were owed money.

Despite efforts by the clients and this paper to track down the owner – Carl Baxter – it was not until the article was published that he responded to the claims.

He said: “In November my letting manager compiled a list of all deposits owed to landlords and Ms Coleman was not on the list.

"This is the first I have heard of this claim and am happy to investigate this further and get it resolved.”

Explaining the reasons for the company's demise Mr Baxter added the issue began in September 2010 when a partner of the company took a substantial amount of money out and left the country.

Mr Baxter continued: “This left me in a predicament of having to consider closing down the company and putting someone out of a job.

“I decided to work at it to trade out of the situation even though things were very tough as it has been for most in the current climate. I personally had to keep investing every penny I had to keep it going but it then got to a point where it became increasingly harder to continue and so with deep regret I had to close the company down in November.

“By no means I wanted the situation to arise.”