Beckham link ‘used in brother-in-law’s fraud’

VICTORIA BECKHAM’S convicted fraudster former brother-inlaw has the “accident of love” to blame for the famous family’s name being used to lure investors into a near-£1m scam, a court heard.

Darren Flood, of Hertford, who was once married to the ex-Spice Girls star’s sister Louise Adams, is facing jail for his part in a conspiracy which saw two dozen victims lose more than £800,000 in a “boiler room” fraud.

Flood’s link to the family was boasted of, victims said, adding an air of legitimacy to the firm, which persuaded people to invest large sums of money in materials known as rare earth elements, falsely promising big returns.

The group targeted vulnerable people, mainly the elderly, through cold-calling, and some victims were even taken out for meals in attempts to persuade them to keep investing.

Kingston Crown Court heard that Paul Muldoon, of Basildon, Essex, the main salesman for The Commodities Link (TCL), “made great play of Darren Flood being David Beckham’s brother-in-law”, during his sales pitch to a victim who lost more than £62,000.

But Joanna Hardy, representing Flood, said her client had never used the link himself and had no contact with any customers in his role as director.

The 40-year-old and Muldoon are among seven people being sentenced for the fraud which scammed investors out of £805,469.29.

There is no suggestion the Beckhams knew anything about the fraud or about any use of the Beckham name.

Flood, Muldoon and five others will be sentenced today.

6.30pm – Mass.

8.45am – Morning

10am – Morning Prayer, 10.30am – Eucharist, 11am – Art and Spirituality (Conrad Hilton Room), 3pm – Evening Prayer.

8.15am – Morning Liturgy (CW), 10.30am – Eucharist (CW), 3.30pm – Evening Prayer (said).

7.30am – Matins, 7.50am, Holy Communion, noon – Holy Communion, 5.15pm – Evensong.