Conman jailed for defrauding Herefordshire farmers of £1m

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 26 Oct, 12:31 · Archive

Phillip Davies, 52, has been jailed for six years and ten months for defrauding Herefordshire farmers out of more than £1 million.

Phillip Davies, 52, has been jailed for six years and ten months at Worcester Crown Court for defrauding Herefordshire farmers and other victims out of more than £1 million.

Davies convinced one farmer and his wife to invest £880,164 in a cut flower business he claimed would supply supermarkets including Morrisons, M&S and Aldi. The enterprise was entirely false, concocted to pay off drug debts to an organised crime group in Liverpool. The victims took loans from friends, secured bridging loans and handed over savings to fund the investment.

Davies then defrauded three other victims. A second victim lost £48,153 after being persuaded Davies was a financial advisor who could invest his pensions and savings. A third lost more than £22,000 to a fake hedge fund scheme. A fourth handed over more than £48,000 after being convinced Davies could help with probate issues and buy shares.

Prosecution barrister James Dunstan described the main scheme as 'meticulously' planned, targeting the farmer during a period of financial difficulty. Davies had spent five years on bail awaiting trial.

How it is being reported

• Farmer's retirement ruined after fraudster conned him out of £880kA Herefordshire farmer has told how he was forced to sell much of his farm and abandon retirement plans after being conned out of nearly £900,000 by a fraudster who branded his own behaviour "despicable".Malvern Gazette · 26 Oct, 12:26
• Farmer's retirement ruined after fraudster conned him out of £880kA Herefordshire farmer has told how he was forced to sell much of his farm and abandon retirement plans after being conned out of nearly £900,000 by a fraudster who branded his own behaviour "despicable".Worcester News · 26 Oct, 12:26
• Despicable conman jailed for 'remorselessly milking farmers' out of £880,000A “despicable” conman who defrauded Herefordshire farmers out of more than £1 million has been jailed for six years and 10 months.Worcester News · 26 Oct, 12:01
• Despicable conman jailed for 'remorselessly milking farmers' out of £880,000A “despicable” conman who defrauded Herefordshire farmers out of more than £1 million has been jailed for six years and 10 months.Malvern Gazette · 26 Oct, 12:01

In this story: Phillip Davies · Herefordshire · Worcester Crown Court · Morrisons · M&S · Aldi · Liverpool

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