'Shameless' conman in £1.1m watch fraud

A BUSINESSMAN who sold high-value watches defrauded customers out of more than £1m after launching a ‘Ponzi scheme’ when his firm failed.

- By ANDREW BARDSLEY

Adam Moore-Lynch

Adam Moore-Lynch, 28, has been jailed after 45 victims were left thousands of pounds out of pocket by Manchester Watch Hub, the company he ran. Moore-Lynch would sell expensive watches for clients, including Rolexs, in exchange for a seller’s fee.

But when the ‘legitimate’ and ‘successful’ business he had helped to build up began experiencing problems, he began ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ Manchester Crown Court heard clients would be ‘placated, ignored or misled’ and ultimately left out of pocket. They told of the devastating toll Moore-Lynch’s crimes have had.

He has now been jailed for more than five years. Prosecutors told how Manchester Watch Hub was incorporated in October 2020. It specialised in the sale of ‘high value, prestige’ watches on the second hand market.

The firm originally had premises in Salford Quays, before moving to King Street in Manchester city centre.