B.C. man admits passing bad cheques for rent in fraud case

A businessman originally from British Columbia has admitted to passing bad cheques for rent after pleading guilty to defrauding a St. John's-based property management company.

• James Timothy Drummond pleads guilty to fraud over $5K
• B.C. 'con man' facing fraud charges in N.L.

Lawyers for the Crown and defence presented an agreed statement of facts in the case of James Timothy Drummond at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court on Thursday.

According to that document, Drummond started leasing a home in Conception Bay South in March of 2012.

He paid rent until February 2013, when Burke Realty received a cheque from Drummond for £5,500 from a bank in the United Kingdom.

When the company cashed the post-dated cheque, it was sent back, because the account was closed.

Drummond then paid for a couple of months' rent, but that summer, sent a cheque for $16,780 from another account that was frozen, and empty.

According to court documents, Burke Realty tried to recover the money that Drummond owed, but never got the total amount.

Drummond was then evicted from the home, owing the company $7,856.

Drummond is due back in court for his sentencing hearing in April.

His lawyer, Tammy Drover, says that will give Drummond enough time to sort out his many medical issues and appointments.

She also noted there will be witnesses at the hearing, and that medical evidence will be presented.

Unrelated forgery charges pending

Drummond is also facing several forgery charges in another, unrelated matter.

In both cases, there were delays because of his medical issues.

• B.C. 'con man' trial delayed due to medical reasons as new charges filed

According to court filings, those issues included a round of radio-therapy treatment.

While there are medical concerns now, Drummond has not always been truthful about his health in the past.

According to a 2008 decision by a B.C. Supreme Court judge, Drummond told several people in the 1980s and 1990s that he had leukemia — including his then-wife and his in-laws.

In that decision, the judge wrote that: "In fact, he did not have leukemia."

The judge also called Drummond a "con man" and a "compulsive liar."

Drummond will be at provincial court in St. John's on Feb. 22 on the forgery charges. He returns to Supreme Court on April 22 for his fraud sentencing.