Manager’s £14k Fraud Shakes Trust at Popular Newquay Resort
Resort Hit by Manager’s Deception Scheme
Retallack Resort and Spa, a family-friendly destination that draws visitors to our region near St Columb Major, has been left nursing reputational wounds after a senior manager orchestrated a six-month fraud operation targeting paying customers.
Stuart Dilloway, 36, who worked as sports and leisure manager at the venue, convinced staff to ask customers for bank details under the guise of processing payments for a new system. However, the account numbers he provided weren’t Retallack’s—they were his own. Between March and August 2024, Dilloway siphoned over £14,500 into his personal bank account.
The scheme unravelled when customers began querying why their payments weren’t labelled to Retallack. When confronted, Dilloway initially denied involvement before attempting to shift blame onto his team members. He was arrested in December 2024 and pleaded guilty at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court in January.
For those planning to visit Newquay and the surrounding attractions this season, the resort’s statement highlights the serious impact: “We are facing increased scrutiny and have been working hard to restore trust. This has compromised the integrity and reputation of our organisation.”
Why Dilloway Crossed the Line—And What It Cost Him
During sentencing at Truro Crown Court, the court heard Dilloway’s personal financial crisis triggered the fraud. He’d borrowed money from his own mother to help purchase a family home with his partner, but family tensions arose over repaying the loan. Facing potential loss of the property, Dilloway made what His Honour Judge Simon Carr called “an appalling bad decision.”
Dilloway’s legal representative explained his client thought he could “gamble his way out” of the debt—a desperate miscalculation that cost him his career. The judge noted the scheme could have continued far longer had vigilant customers not questioned their statements.
Sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years plus 240 hours unpaid work, Dilloway has already lost his employment. He’s now working night shifts while his partner works days, attempting to keep their home afloat. With 16 previous convictions for fraud and theft, his pattern of offending raises serious concerns about rehabilitation.
The judge acknowledged that immediate imprisonment would devastate his family’s financial stability, but made clear the deception caused genuine harm to the business and its clientele.
Community Trust at Stake—What Locals Should Know
For those who regularly visit Retallack Resort or recommend it to friends planning getaways to Newquay and the coastal area, this fraud signals a breach of trust that extends beyond one manager’s actions. The resort’s victim impact statement emphasizes how customer confidence directly affects local tourism businesses.
Retallack isn’t just another attraction—it’s part of our regional hospitality landscape that supports hundreds of jobs across accommodation, leisure, and service sectors. When establishments like this lose customer trust, it ripples through our economy. Visitors considering dog friendly accommodation or planning beach trips to Fistral Beach and other local spots often rely on resort recommendations and online reviews heavily influenced by incidents like this.
The resort management has committed to restoration work, though rebuilding reputation takes considerably longer than six months of fraud takes to destroy it. Locals should monitor how the business addresses its security protocols and staff training moving forward.
If you use payment systems at any local business—whether booking activities, leisure facilities, or accommodation—verify payment details independently. Ask staff to confirm account information matches official invoices or websites. Your vigilance, like the customers who questioned Dilloway’s scheme, protects both yourself and local businesses we all depend on.
Source: Manager stole from employer when he couldn’t repay his mum
