Lavish life of couple 1._____ stung expats in £10m con: Ponzi fraudster blew cash 2. _____ luxury hotels, parties and Las Vegas wedding
- John Hirst, his estranged 3._________ Linda and accountant Richard Pollett played a part in a huge fraud on Spanish island of Majorca
- Bradford Crown Court heard incredible list of spending from 2001 to 2009 that gave him a celebrity lifestyle 4._______ by fraud
To the Rotary Club 5.__________ they befriended, John and Linda Hirst were a respectable couple reaping the 6._____________ of their hard work.
They lived in a £1.5million gated villa in Majorca, drove expensive cars and enjoyed five-star holidays abroad.
The pair even paid £200,000 for a Las Vegas wedding and a sumptuous 7.__________ for hundreds of guests.
But the Hirsts’ vast 8.______ had little to do with hard work and the Rotary friends and golf chums were nothing more than hapless 9.________.
For almost a decade they targeted unsuspecting British expats living in Spain as part of a £10million Ponzi 10._________.
They now face swapping their sprawling Spanish retreat 11._______ a 10ft by 6ft prison cell after they were finally 12.____________ as cheats.
Hirst, 61, a convicted fraudster who was previously jailed over another £500,000 scam, was warned to expect a lengthy sentence after he pleaded guilty to fraud and money 13.___________.
His 62-year-old wife, Linda, was convicted of two charges after a six-week 14.________ at Bradford Crown Court.
Last night, as a judge said their crimes were of the ‘utmost gravity’, fresh details began to 15.____________ of their extraordinary spending 16.__________.
They splashed 17.________ £270,000 renovating their Spanish villa, a further £260,000 18._________ holidays, a series of luxury cruises and jewellery, the court heard.
They even bought a home 19.______ Hirst’s unwitting ex-wife and daughter.
But it was the couple’s own wedding that was the most extravagant purchase of all.
Wedding planner Julie Bussell said she had been contacted by the couple in 2006 and was asked to throw the ‘most expensive party ever’.
She set about arranging a £100,000
weekend-long wedding reception in Majorca after the couple had already
spent £90,000 20._______ the knot in Las Vegas.
Guests enjoyed a golf competition, a ladies’ pampering 21._________ and a barbecue as well as the wedding itself.
John Hirst also paid for family members to fly in for the celebration before jetting off with his wife to the exclusive Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai on the way to the Seychelles for their honeymoon.
Mrs Bussell said: ‘They had a really fabulous 22._________ in a five-star hotel. It was a luxury wedding reception with everything they wanted.
But while the couple enjoyed all the
material benefits of their new-found 23.________, their victims were
beginning to 24.______ the cost.Guests enjoyed a golf competition, a ladies’ pampering 21._________ and a barbecue as well as the wedding itself.
John Hirst also paid for family members to fly in for the celebration before jetting off with his wife to the exclusive Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai on the way to the Seychelles for their honeymoon.
Mrs Bussell said: ‘They had a really fabulous 22._________ in a five-star hotel. It was a luxury wedding reception with everything they wanted.
Simon Bourne-Arton QC, prosecuting, said Hirst and his accountant, Richard Pollett, 70, had 25.__________ investors through the company, Gilher Inc, which was registered in Panama and the Seychelles.
Victims were promised high 26.__________ of interest in 27.__________ for capital investment with their money 28.__________.
In reality, the money was going to offshore 29.________ controlled by Hirst, with only small amounts going back to 30.___________ every month – but enough to persuade them the 31._________ was working.
Of the £10million they handed over between 2001 and 2009 the investors received only £4.6million back.
The scam began to 32.________ in 2009 when a series of delayed payments to investors sparked an 33.______________ by the Serious Fraud Office.
The case finally ended on Monday when Pollett was 34._________ of fraud. Linda Hirst and her husband have since split up.
The pair will be sentenced on August 31 along with Pollett.
Expat Janet Corbin, originally from Manchester, lost 200,000 euros 35._______ the swindle.
She said: ‘I’m delighted British 36.___________ has prevailed.’
Victim Charles Dewey, 52, lost an 37._________ £200,000 and suffered a nervous 38.___________ as a result.
He said: ‘It is the cruelty of the fact that he preyed 39._______ people, the majority of whom were retired.’
Hirst’s son Daniel Hirst and step-daughter Zoe Waite, who had denied the 40.________, were cleared by the jury.
Adapted from The Daily Mail
KEY
1. who
Lavish: large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money. Extravagant, luxurious. E.g. lavish gifts/costumes/celebrations. They lived a very lavish lifestyle.
Sting (stung, stung) somebody for something. To borrow money from somebody. E.g. Can I sting you for a couple of pounds?
Con: (confidence trick). a trick; an act of cheating somebody. E.g. The so-called bargain was just a big con! He's a real con artist (= a person who regularly cheats others).
2. on (Blow something (on something): to spend or waste a lot of money on something. E.g. He inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling.
Ponzi scheme: /ˈpɒnzi skiːm/ a plan for making money that involves encouraging people to invest by offering them a high rate of interest and using their money to pay earlier investors. When there are not enough new investors, people who have recently invested lose their money. (Etymology:From Charles Ponzi, who organized the first scheme of this kind in the US in 1919)
3. wife (estranged: /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ no longer living with your husband or wife. E.g. his estranged wife Emma. She is attempting to contact her estranged husband to break the news.)
4. funded (to provide money for something. Sp. financiar. E.g. a dance festival funded by the Arts Council. The museum is privately funded. A government-funded programme.
5. members (Befriend: befriend somebody to become a friend of somebody, especially somebody who needs your help. E.g. Shortly after my arrival at the school, I was befriended by an older girl.)
6. rewards (reap something to obtain something, especially something good, as a direct result of something that you have done. E.g. They are now reaping the rewards of all their hard work.)
7. reception (sumptuous /ˈsʌmptʃuəs/ very expensive and looking very impressive. Sp. suntuoso, lujoso. E.g. a sumptuous meal. We dined in sumptuous surroundings. The interior is decorated in sumptuous reds and golds.)
8. wealth
9. victims (Chum: /tʃʌm/ a friend. Hapless /ˈhæpləs/ not lucky; unfortunate. Sp. desafortunado. E.g. the hapless victims of exploitation)
10. Scheme (Ponzi scheme: /ˈpɒnzi skiːm/ a plan for making money that involves encouraging people to invest by offering them a high rate of interest and using their money to pay earlier investors. When there are not enough new investors, people who have recently invested lose their money. (Etymology:From Charles Ponzi, who organized the first scheme of this kind in the US in 1919)
11. for (Swap somebody/something (for somebody/something) to replace one person or thing with another. E.g. I think I'll swap this sweater for one in another colour)
Sprawling /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/ spreading in an untidy way. E.g. a modern sprawling town. Sprawling handwriting.
12. exposed (cheat: a person who cheats, especially in a game. Sp. estafador. E.g. You little cheat! Are you accusing me of being a cheat? A plan to crack down on tax cheats)
13. laundering (launder something to move money that has been obtained illegally into foreign bank accounts or legal businesses so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from. E.g. Most of the drugs money was laundered through Swiss bank accounts.)
Convict somebody (of something) to decide and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime. Sp. condenar, decrarar culpable. E.g. a convicted murderer.
Scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money. Sp. estafa. E.g. an insurance scam.
14. trial
15. emerge.
Utmost /ˈʌtməʊst/ greatest; most extreme. E.g. This is a matter of the utmost importance. You should study this document with the utmost care.
Gravity /ˈɡrævəti/ extreme importance and a cause for worry. Seriousness. E.g. I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation.
16. sprees (Spree a short period of time that you spend doing one particular activity that you enjoy, but often too much of it. E.g. a shopping/spending spree. Sp. gastar a lo loco, gastar lo que no está escrito.)
17. out (splash out (on something) to spend a lot of money on something. E.g. We're going to splash out and buy a new car. He splashed out hundreds of pounds on designer clothes.)
18. on (splash out (on something) to spend a lot of money on something. E.g. We're going to splash out and buy a new car. He splashed out hundreds of pounds on designer clothes.)
19. for (unwitting not aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are involved in. Sp. inconsciente. E.g. He became an unwitting accomplice in the crime. She was the unwitting cause of the argument.)
20. tying (tie the knot: to get married)
21. session (pamper to take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as possible. Sp. mimar. E.g. Pamper yourself with our new range of beauty treatments. We have spas and beauty treatments for the ultimate in pampering (massages, facials, beauty treatments...)
22. venue (/ˈvenjuː/ a place where people meet for an organized event, for example a concert, sporting event or conference. E.g. The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. Please note the change of venue for this event.)
23. fortune (new-found recently discovered or achieved. E.g. How is she handling her new-found fame? His new-found freedom/confidence/enthusiasm)
24. count (count the cost (of something) to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc. E.g. The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.)
25. defrauded (defraud /dɪˈfrɔːd/ to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them. E.g. They were accused of defrauding the company of $14000.)
QC the highest level of barrister, who can speak for the government in court. QC is the abbreviation for ‘Queen's Counsel’ and is used when there is a queen in Britain.
26. rates (rate a fixed amount of money that is charged or paid for something Sp. tipo. E.g. exchange/ interest rates. Rates of exchange/interest)
27. return (in return (for something) as a way of thanking somebody or paying them for something they have done. E.g. Can I buy you lunch in return for your help?)
28. guaranteed
29. accounts (offshore kept or located in a country that has more generous tax laws than other places. E.g. offshore investments)
30. investors
31. scheme (a plan or system for doing or organizing something. E.g. a local scheme for recycling newspapers)
32. unravel (/ʌnˈrævl/ to start to fail or no longer stay together as a whole)
33. investigation
Spark to cause something to start or develop, especially suddenly. spark something The proposal would spark a storm of protest around the country. Winds brought down power lines, sparking a fire. The organizers are hoping to spark some interest in young people. Spark something off The riots were sparked off by the arrest of a local leader.
34. convicted
35. in (Swindle a situation in which somebody uses dishonest or illegal methods in order to get money from a company, another person, etc. Sp. estafa, timo)
36. justice (prevail: /prɪˈveɪl/ triumph. To be accepted, especially after a struggle or an argument. Sp. prevalecer, imponerse. E.g. Justice will prevail over tyranny. Fortunately, common sense prevailed.)
37. estimated
38. breakdown
39. on (prey on somebody to harm somebody who is weaker than you, or make use of them in a dishonest way to get what you want. Sp. abusar. E.g. Bogus (false) social workers have been preying on old people living alone.)
40. charges
KEY
1. who
Lavish: large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money. Extravagant, luxurious. E.g. lavish gifts/costumes/celebrations. They lived a very lavish lifestyle.
Sting (stung, stung) somebody for something. To borrow money from somebody. E.g. Can I sting you for a couple of pounds?
Con: (confidence trick). a trick; an act of cheating somebody. E.g. The so-called bargain was just a big con! He's a real con artist (= a person who regularly cheats others).
2. on (Blow something (on something): to spend or waste a lot of money on something. E.g. He inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling.
Ponzi scheme: /ˈpɒnzi skiːm/ a plan for making money that involves encouraging people to invest by offering them a high rate of interest and using their money to pay earlier investors. When there are not enough new investors, people who have recently invested lose their money. (Etymology:From Charles Ponzi, who organized the first scheme of this kind in the US in 1919)
3. wife (estranged: /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ no longer living with your husband or wife. E.g. his estranged wife Emma. She is attempting to contact her estranged husband to break the news.)
4. funded (to provide money for something. Sp. financiar. E.g. a dance festival funded by the Arts Council. The museum is privately funded. A government-funded programme.
5. members (Befriend: befriend somebody to become a friend of somebody, especially somebody who needs your help. E.g. Shortly after my arrival at the school, I was befriended by an older girl.)
6. rewards (reap something to obtain something, especially something good, as a direct result of something that you have done. E.g. They are now reaping the rewards of all their hard work.)
7. reception (sumptuous /ˈsʌmptʃuəs/ very expensive and looking very impressive. Sp. suntuoso, lujoso. E.g. a sumptuous meal. We dined in sumptuous surroundings. The interior is decorated in sumptuous reds and golds.)
8. wealth
9. victims (Chum: /tʃʌm/ a friend. Hapless /ˈhæpləs/ not lucky; unfortunate. Sp. desafortunado. E.g. the hapless victims of exploitation)
10. Scheme (Ponzi scheme: /ˈpɒnzi skiːm/ a plan for making money that involves encouraging people to invest by offering them a high rate of interest and using their money to pay earlier investors. When there are not enough new investors, people who have recently invested lose their money. (Etymology:From Charles Ponzi, who organized the first scheme of this kind in the US in 1919)
11. for (Swap somebody/something (for somebody/something) to replace one person or thing with another. E.g. I think I'll swap this sweater for one in another colour)
Sprawling /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/ spreading in an untidy way. E.g. a modern sprawling town. Sprawling handwriting.
12. exposed (cheat: a person who cheats, especially in a game. Sp. estafador. E.g. You little cheat! Are you accusing me of being a cheat? A plan to crack down on tax cheats)
13. laundering (launder something to move money that has been obtained illegally into foreign bank accounts or legal businesses so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from. E.g. Most of the drugs money was laundered through Swiss bank accounts.)
Convict somebody (of something) to decide and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime. Sp. condenar, decrarar culpable. E.g. a convicted murderer.
Scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money. Sp. estafa. E.g. an insurance scam.
14. trial
15. emerge.
Utmost /ˈʌtməʊst/ greatest; most extreme. E.g. This is a matter of the utmost importance. You should study this document with the utmost care.
Gravity /ˈɡrævəti/ extreme importance and a cause for worry. Seriousness. E.g. I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation.
16. sprees (Spree a short period of time that you spend doing one particular activity that you enjoy, but often too much of it. E.g. a shopping/spending spree. Sp. gastar a lo loco, gastar lo que no está escrito.)
17. out (splash out (on something) to spend a lot of money on something. E.g. We're going to splash out and buy a new car. He splashed out hundreds of pounds on designer clothes.)
18. on (splash out (on something) to spend a lot of money on something. E.g. We're going to splash out and buy a new car. He splashed out hundreds of pounds on designer clothes.)
19. for (unwitting not aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are involved in. Sp. inconsciente. E.g. He became an unwitting accomplice in the crime. She was the unwitting cause of the argument.)
20. tying (tie the knot: to get married)
21. session (pamper to take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as possible. Sp. mimar. E.g. Pamper yourself with our new range of beauty treatments. We have spas and beauty treatments for the ultimate in pampering (massages, facials, beauty treatments...)
22. venue (/ˈvenjuː/ a place where people meet for an organized event, for example a concert, sporting event or conference. E.g. The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. Please note the change of venue for this event.)
23. fortune (new-found recently discovered or achieved. E.g. How is she handling her new-found fame? His new-found freedom/confidence/enthusiasm)
24. count (count the cost (of something) to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc. E.g. The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.)
25. defrauded (defraud /dɪˈfrɔːd/ to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them. E.g. They were accused of defrauding the company of $14000.)
QC the highest level of barrister, who can speak for the government in court. QC is the abbreviation for ‘Queen's Counsel’ and is used when there is a queen in Britain.
26. rates (rate a fixed amount of money that is charged or paid for something Sp. tipo. E.g. exchange/ interest rates. Rates of exchange/interest)
27. return (in return (for something) as a way of thanking somebody or paying them for something they have done. E.g. Can I buy you lunch in return for your help?)
28. guaranteed
29. accounts (offshore kept or located in a country that has more generous tax laws than other places. E.g. offshore investments)
30. investors
31. scheme (a plan or system for doing or organizing something. E.g. a local scheme for recycling newspapers)
32. unravel (/ʌnˈrævl/ to start to fail or no longer stay together as a whole)
33. investigation
Spark to cause something to start or develop, especially suddenly. spark something The proposal would spark a storm of protest around the country. Winds brought down power lines, sparking a fire. The organizers are hoping to spark some interest in young people. Spark something off The riots were sparked off by the arrest of a local leader.
34. convicted
35. in (Swindle a situation in which somebody uses dishonest or illegal methods in order to get money from a company, another person, etc. Sp. estafa, timo)
36. justice (prevail: /prɪˈveɪl/ triumph. To be accepted, especially after a struggle or an argument. Sp. prevalecer, imponerse. E.g. Justice will prevail over tyranny. Fortunately, common sense prevailed.)
37. estimated
38. breakdown
39. on (prey on somebody to harm somebody who is weaker than you, or make use of them in a dishonest way to get what you want. Sp. abusar. E.g. Bogus (false) social workers have been preying on old people living alone.)
40. charges
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