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You’re not the first to be fooled. For 20 years, “Lord” Edward Davenport was a London society linchpin, hosting parties for the likes of Mick Jagger and Keira Knightley at his West End mansion. On Thursday however, it all came crashing down as a court ruled his fortune was the product of criminal enterprise – and confiscated most of it.
What did he do?
Known as Fast Eddie, the socialite - who claimed to be friends with Princes William and Harry - was convicted in 2011 of masterminding a global scam that defrauded 51 victims and netted him more than £40m.
And he’s not really gentry?
His website describes him as: “one of London’s most flamboyant and best-known entrepreneurs as well as a true English gentleman”. But it turns out his father was a restaurateur and he went to a minor public school. After buying a title, he made his name in the 1980s organising the notorious Gatecrasher Balls.
And he was a bon vivant?
Certainly. He splits his time between London and Monaco, and his website boasts of a jet, beautiful homes and a collection of sports cars including a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
From hero to zero...
After the Gatecrasher company fell, he was jailed for nine months for VAT evasion. Then, in 1998, he was charged with racking up an £8,000 hotel bill but the case was dropped.
Will his victims get their money back?
Nope. The Serious Fraud Office could locate only £14m of assets. The judge ordered that £12m be seized – the rest will be “cleaned out” by compensation claims and costs.
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