Playboy lord accused in £12m commercial fraud
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Lord Davenport has been named as one of three men charged in relation to a suspected £12m commercial property fraud.
Edward Davenport describes himself as “one of London’s most flamboyant and best-known entrepreneurs as well as a true English gentleman from an established British family.”
His website says he is a businessman renowned for taking chances and living a life of adventure.
He lives the high life in Monaco and London, rubbing shoulders with celebrity friends such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Pink and Fifty Cent.
He has been charged along with Martin Peter Riley and David Martin Layard Horsfall for conspiracy to defraud, deception and money laundering offences.
All three men will appear in court on 2 February 2010 at Southwark Crown Court.
Three others, two men and one woman were also arrested and released without charge although one (a male) was bailed until 12 January 2010.
Enquiries are being extended to cover allegations of rent fraud. This involved Gresham Limited leasing a building for several years, obtaining a rent free period in the process. They then sublet the premises and failed to pay rent as agreed to the owner.
This investigation arose from complaints made by victims to the local Police and the Serious Fraud Office. The searches were conducted with the assistance of the City of London and Cheshire Police. The location of potential victims is believed to be in Austria, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Dubai and others.
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