Luxury life of couple in £28m timeshare con

A FRAUDSTER spent £31,500 on a sketch by LS Lowry from the proceeds of a holiday investment scam which defrauded more than 3,000 people out of more than £28million.

- Sam Hall

The conspiracy, led by Mark Rowe, operated under the brand Sell My Timeshare and targeted owners desperate to relinquish their properties.

Investigators said Rowe, 54, "put victims up in hotels" and created virtual offices and fake personas as part of the fraud - 14 people were ultimately convicted of a variety of offences under Operation Destin.

After being lured to SMT's York, Bournemouth, Stratford-upon-Avon or Tenerife offices under the guise of selling their timeshares, victims instead "endured high-pressure sales meetings" up to six hours long, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Vendors were pushed to trade in their timeshares and pay out more for the firm's "Monster Credits" scheme.

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It promised discounts on holidays and shopping, plus the chance to trade them with other customers.