Britain's Notorious Fraudster

 

The self-styled lord who led the life of an international playboy while masterminding a huge fraud must sell his lavish London home to avoid another decade behind bars.

Edward - ‘Fast Eddie’ - Davenport, 48, hosted lavish parties at his mansion - which could sell for £30million - and boasted of befriending guests including supermodel Kate Moss and Princes William and Harry. 

He bought the 24-bedroom property for just £50,000 from the Sierra Leone government in 1999 while the country was embroiled in a civil war.

He told the Sunday Telegraph: 'This place wasn’t really related to the offences... so it’s all a bit unfair that I’m being forced to sell. Quite shockingly unfair, actually.' 

For two decades, Davenport – the ‘Lord’ refers to a manorial title he bought – was a central  figure in London’s most hedonistic circles. In the late Eighties, his black-tie ‘Gatecrasher Balls’ became notorious for the drunken debauchery of public school-educated teens before they were brought to an abrupt end when he was convicted of tax fraud.

The con artist, born Edward Ormus Sharington Davenport, promised millions of pounds to investors which never materialised after he had pocketed the administration fees and advance payments.

Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel lost the life savings she invested with Davenport.

The fraudster, who was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years behind bars in 2011, was not at Southwark Crown Court to hear the Judge Peter Testar’s ruling earlier this month.

Davenport, who was released from prison on licence in May due to acute kidney problems will also have to find £1,943,620 in compensation in addition to a £12million confiscation order

Davenport claimed to be a familiar face in ‘exclusive venues across the world’ and had ‘extensive business interests.’

His web page boasts: ‘Welcome to the website of Edward Davenport, one of London’s most flamboyant and best known entrepreneurs as well as a true English gentleman from an established British family.’

Among the stars Davenport was pictured with on the site’s gallery were actors Hugh Grant, Jeremy Irons, Jude Law and Steve Coogan and music mogul Simon Cowell.

Davenport, of Portland Place, central London, was convicted after a trial of conspiracy to defraud.

His bill could rise to £15,855,273, if he is ordered to meet both prosecution and defence costs.