Former recruitment firm chief executive Stephen Dering pleaded guilty to one count of fraud at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (27 March).

The court heard that, between 18 March 2007 and 6 August 2011, he conspired to commit fraud by dishonestly claiming benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions under the access to work scheme, namely for the reimbursement of support workers for Interpreter Online. His co-accused on that count – Paul Neal and Ethel Neal – pleaded not guilty.

Dering pleaded not guilty to one count of fraudulent trading between 7 March 2007 and 19 September 2012 for his part in the continuing of the business of Interpreter Online. His co-accused on that count – Paul Neal, Ethel Neal and Russell Parke – also pleaded not guilty.

In total, 10 people were accused of seven counts of related fraud offences. The others were Rosie Coomber, Ian Depledge, Yen Lieu, James Martin, Rose Parke and Patricia Parke.

Dering was the only person to enter a guilty plea.

The relationship between the 10 was not made clear in court. A subsequent Companies House check by Recruiter showed Dering was company secretary for Interpreter Online from 2007 to 2010. Paul Neal was director at the same time.

Dering is expected to appear at Croydon Crown Court on 15 May.

Dering’s company, Dering Employment Services, which was wound up in 2010, was not mentioned in the case.