A penniless truck driver who claimed he could sell the Ritz Hotel in London, to a property developer has been found guilty of obtaining money by deception.
According to The Guardian newspaper the 49-year old con man, Anthony Lee, who defrauded two businessmen out of £1million, now faces "quite substantial custodial sentence".
Southwark crown court heard that Lee participated in an "ambitious scam" to sell London's Ritz Hotel to the unsuspecting businessmen for a "bargain" price of £250 million. At the time the landmark hotel was estimated to be worth up to £600 million.
Lee, who pretended that he was acting on behalf of the billionaire Barclay brothers who own the landmark hotel and casino, enticed his targets with false promises.
He was not at that time involved in the property business or authorised in any way to act as intermediaries on behalf of the Barclay brothers, the court was told.
Lee, of Goole, East Yorkshire, was remanded in custody pending sentence later this month.
Det Sgt Garry Ridler, of North Yorks Police, said: "This case has taken two years and 151 statements. Lee is your typical fraudster who sucks people in and obtains their trust with lies."
| Advertisement |
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
Jul 4, 2010 , United Arab Emirates
I seriously think the Barclay's Brothers ought to employ this poor penniless guy for his remarkable sales skills and investment negotiating technique. A truck driver that can con wealthy business investors in their own game, i personally say, hats off to him, and in the coming future if Ritz owne...