Scammer ‘enjoyed luxury lifestyle’ after raking in £400,000 from selling counterfeit cruises – Wales Online
A scammer who lived a lavish lifestyle by pocketing £400,000 through the sale of fake cruises in an international Ponzi-style scheme has been sentenced to five years in prison. Richard Lester, residing on Swifts Green Road in Luton, Bedfordshire, funded his extravagant life and gambling addiction using money defrauded from customers who paid for cruises that were never actually booked, as revealed in Chelmsford Crown Court. The 56-year-old caused distress and financial loss to customers, manipulating them into believing they were at fault, stated Judge Alexander Mills. Lester was convicted of fraudulent trading and concealing criminal property after a trial in December last year and was sentenced to five years in prison. Additionally, he is barred from being a company director for nine years. Judge Mills noted, “You not only took from these individuals and caused them distress, frustration, uncertainty, disappointment, and financial loss, but you sought to gaslight them.”
Numerous victims had booked cruises for special occasions such as birthday celebrations or wedding gifts, revealed the judge. Lester, a professional gambler, indulged in poker tournaments and won substantial sums, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle in various locations, including Las Vegas. Operating Cruise Direct UK Ltd from 2009 to 2014, Lester sold “cruise vouchers” and “cruise miles” that customers could use to receive discounted cruises. While initially some customers managed to book and embark on cruises, the company even garnered a “prestigious World Travel Award” in 2012. However, numerous customers later received false confirmations for cruises that were never booked, with funds from new customers financing Lester’s opulent lifestyle, gambling habits, and other ventures, the court proceedings disclosed.
Several customers were left stranded when they arrived at ports for their holidays, only to be turned away by cruise operators after discovering that their cruises had not been booked. Although refunds were provided for cancellations, due to an inflation in the number of miles required to purchase a cruise, customers had to purchase more cruise miles. Ultimately, when the company shut down, customers were left with worthless cruise miles amounting to hundreds or thousands of pounds. Lester misappropriated £406,856.39 from 184 victims globally, including in the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, according to Essex Police.
The deceitful nature of Lester’s actions entangled his agents, who had also invested substantial amounts in miles, trapping them within his fraudulent scheme and preventing them from recuperating their losses. The victims faced immense financial difficulties and emotional distress due to Lester’s duplicitous dealings. The collapse of the company left a trail of shattered dreams and financial ruin among those who had invested in what they believed would be unforgettable cruise experiences. Lester’s callous actions not only impacted the immediate victims but also had far-reaching consequences globally, spanning various countries where individuals had placed their trust in his deceitful scheme.
The sentencing of Lester sends a clear message about the severity of financial fraud and its consequences on unsuspecting victims. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before investing in any scheme, especially those promising extravagant rewards with minimal risk. The victims of this scam have been left with emotional scars and financial losses, highlighting the need for stringent measures to detect and prevent such fraudulent activities in the future. The judicial system’s swift action in prosecuting and sentencing Lester demonstrates a commitment to upholding justice and holding perpetrators of financial crimes accountable.