A man who was due to be sentenced for his part in a fraud worth nearly quarter of a million pounds has today asked for new lawyers, saying he wants to change his plea.

Bernard Trumpet had been due to be sentenced at Amersham Crown Court this morning, having earlier this week pleaded guilty to three counts of acquiring criminal property.

But today he told the court he had been badly advised by his barrister and was seeking to change his plea to not guilty.

Trumpet, of Spring Close, High Wycombe, said he wanted a three week adjournment to the case so he could get a new legal team and apply to change his pleas.

Judge Karen Holt accepted this, saying Trumpet has a week to find new lawyers and inform the court and Crown Prosecution Service about his new representatives. He then has until May 22 to put his basis to vacate his plea to the courts.

Meanwhile Judge Holt ruled Trumpet’s co-defendant, Lynne Pleaden, needs to be given a mental health assessment before she can be sentenced.

Pleaden, also of Spring Close, had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and three of acquiring criminal property. According to the court indictment she carried out unauthorised bank transfers while working for Flowerland Garden Centre in Bourne End and fraudulently obtained £38,208.21 in cheques and £32,527.23 in bank account credits from the firm.

The indictment also states she claimed cheques worth £169,414.37 from Silverson Machines Ltd, based in Chesham. All the offences were committed between January 2011 and December 2013.

Judge Holt adjourned the matter until July 3.