‘Lord’ Fraudster Convicted in £400,000 Fake Cruise Scheme

An individual who adopted the title “lord” has been found guilty of defrauding individuals of £400,000 through a fraudulent cruise scheme structured as a Ponzi operation. Essex Police reported that a decade-long inquiry into Richard Lester, aged 56, revealed he deceived 184 individuals into acquiring non-existent cruise miles. These victims, originating from various international locations, only became aware of the deception upon arriving at ports for their planned vacations, where cruise operators denied them access. Lester, residing at Swifts Green Road, Luton, received a conviction for fraudulent trading and the concealment of criminal property after a trial held at Chelmsford Crown Court. Law enforcement authorities also determined that Lester employed multiple aliases, including Lord Lester, Henry Lester, Les Richards, Richie Lescovitch, and Barry Williams, in an attempt to avoid apprehension. His sentencing is scheduled to take place at the same court on 11 February 2025. The “Cruisemiles” were acquired via agents and intended for redemption for trips through Lester’s “Cruisemiles” website at significantly reduced costs; however, no actual holidays were ever reserved. Instead, Lester squandered the funds on online poker platforms and boasted about living an extravagant lifestyle. PC Leanne Smith, who has been involved in the investigation of “Cruisemiles” and Lester since 2014, stated: “This has been a large and complex investigation, with officers gathering dozens of statements from victims.” She added, “All their money leads back to Lester. His greed left hundreds of people thousands of pounds out of pocket.” While customers purchased miles for cruise exchanges, many discovered that the quantity of miles needed “regularly and rapidly increased,” according to police reports. Subsequently, dissatisfied victims started reporting the scheme, leading to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau contacting Essex Police in July 2013. The police force identified victims in the United Kingdom and internationally, encompassing the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan. He defrauded 184 individuals of £406,856.39 over a period of three years. PC Smith commented: “Securing justice for these victims meant scouring several bank accounts to trace exactly where their money had gone.” She further stated, “They were tricked into committing more and more money to his scheme, unaware that money was going directly into Lester’s pocket.” Concluding, she added, “He’s now been found guilty thanks to the testimonies of those who wouldn’t believe his excuses.”