Yorkshire Post

TV star Edmonds ‘came close to suicide after business destroyed’

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TELEVISION PRESENTER Noel Edmonds came close to taking his own life after falling victim to financial fraud, the star has revealed as he continues to seek compensati­on from Lloyds Banking Group.

Mr Edmonds admitted he was taken “to the brink of emotional annihilati­on” after a group of corrupt HBOS financiers helped destroy his former business Unique Group.

Lloyds, which rescued HBOS during the financial crisis, said in April it would begin making compensati­on offers to fraud victims in May from a £100m pot, with payments expected to begin in June.

However, Mr Edmonds has repeatedly urged Lloyds to speed up the process after launching a £50m-plus compensati­on claim against the lender. He has even gone as far as to set up a website – www.banklloyds.claims – as part of his campaign.

He said: “Until these criminals took me to the brink of emotional annihilati­on, I had always felt those who opt out by taking their own lives were selfish and cowardly. But having been cast into that bottomless dark space devoid of logic and reason, I have a much deeper understand­ing of life without hope.

“I seek no sympathy and feel no shame in admitting that on the evening of January 18, 2005, I attempted to end the overwhelmi­ng mental pain which had consumed my whole being. The fact that I did not become another suicide statistic is solely due to the swift response of a Devon ambulance crew and the compassion­ate support of the Priory in Bristol.”

Former HBOS financiers were jailed this year for carrying out a £245m loans scam that destroyed businesses, including that of Mr Edmonds, before they squandered the profits on high-end prostitute­s and luxury holidays.

Lloyds has said its compensati­on programme is “on track” and the lender has started making payments to some of those affected. A spokesman said: “We have a clear policy that if a customer says that they are considerin­g taking their own life that we must take the statement seriously and take action to protect them.”

 ??  ?? Star is seeking £50m-plus compensati­on from Lloyds Banking Group.
Star is seeking £50m-plus compensati­on from Lloyds Banking Group.

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