OSCAR-WINNING

lyricist Sir Tim Rice’s ex-girlfriend Amanda Eliasch may well regret buying herself a title. For the vivacious ex-wife of Tory billionaire donor Johan Eliasch, who changed her social media accounts to ‘Countess’ Amanda Eliasch after purchasing the title for just £195, has been targeted by a conman. ‘I trusted a friend . . . but he has sadly stolen from me,’ she admits. The film-maker, 57, accuses the pal of robbing her of $130,000 (£99,000) after he opened a bank account for her in London, where she deposited $986,000 (£748,000) from the sale of her California home.