Man ordered to repay more than half a million for Crete hotel fraud
A former carpet fitter has been orderd to repay more than half a million pounds to those who invested in his failed venture to develop hotel sites in Crete.
Ralph Christie, aged 56 from West Yorkshire, was found guilty on five charges of fraud in 2015 and sentenced to seven years in jail. At the time, the judge said he had used the money to fund his lifestyle and gambling.
Yesterday, Bradford Crown Court ordered him to repay £569,990 to investors, which included a company that had sunk almost £900,000 into his scheme and five individuals.
Ramona Senior, the head of West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: "At the centre of this were the victims who lost a lot of money because of the fraud.
"The impact on them in many cases was considerable and at least today we have secured money back from Christie."
Christie has three months to pay the money back – or risk his prison sentence being extended by four years.
Senior added: "The order made will be robustly enforced and if Christie fails to pay this order he will face a further four years in prison and the debt he owes to society will remain with him for life until paid in full."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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