Wiltshire Man Jailed for £3.4 Million PSG Scam
Football Fraud Shocker
A 45-year-old Wiltshire man, Edward Blackmore of Holt, has been slapped with a six-year-plus jail sentence after scamming his in-laws and a finance firm out of more than £3.4 million. The ruse? A forged contract claiming multi-million-pound business with football giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Described in court as a “grandiose narcissist,” Blackmore pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation at Swindon Crown Court.
A Web of Lies and Forgery
- In August 2018, Blackmore claimed his firm, OGC Sport Investments, had landed a huge services deal with PSG.
- He forged the lawyer’s signature and stamp to make the contract look official.
- Using the fake document, he secured an interest-free £1.8 million loan from his trusting in-laws.
- He used this cash to buy Beechwood House, a Grade II-listed property in Widcombe, Bath, where he lived with his wife and kids.
- At the same time, he swindled a £1.68 million bridging loan from a finance company, again using the bogus PSG contract.
- He even forged his then-wife’s signature on a tenancy agreement connected to the purchase.
Eviction and Financial Ruin
Despite promising quick repayments, Blackmore stopped paying after just £76,000. Both in-laws and the finance company were hoodwinked by his lies, including claims that the PSG payment was frozen by the bank after being deposited in the wrong account.
The finance company had to appoint receivers. The family were evicted from Beechwood House, later sold to cover the loan. But Blackmore’s in-laws were left out of pocket by £1.8 million.
The scam only came to light when the in-laws reported Blackmore to Action Fraud, leading to a police investigation by Wiltshire’s Complex Fraud Team.
A Family Betrayed
Emotional victim statements laid bare the wreckage wrought by Blackmore’s lies.
“Mr Blackmore’s deception has had a profound effect on our entire family — physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially. We embraced him into our family, only to be utterly betrayed,” said his mother-in-law.
“We had plans to travel the world, treat our children and grandchildren, and make lasting memories. Mr Blackmore has denied us that. His total lack of remorse is simply incomprehensible.”
His estranged wife, now filing for divorce, revealed how the fraud shattered her life:
“I believed I was entering a partnership built on trust. Instead, I became the victim of a calculated betrayal that has left me a single mum in rented accommodation, working full-time just to make ends meet.”
“Our children’s home was taken away, their stability ripped apart. But I am determined to rebuild what he destroyed.”
Police Slam “Seemingly Endless” Lies
DC Rachael Fairbairn of Wiltshire Police’s Complex Fraud Team said:
“Blackmore didn’t just betray his immediate family but deprived his wider family of their financial freedom. The scale of his deception is staggering. I hope today’s sentence provides some closure for the victims and lets them start rebuilding their lives.”
Judge Delivers Tough Sentence
Blackmore was jailed for six years and eight months. Confiscation proceedings will follow to claw back stolen cash.
The judge blasted the scam as “a deliberate and sophisticated fraud” leaving “a trail of emotional and financial destruction.”
Beware: Even Family Can Betray
This case is a stark warning to always check the facts — even when money’s involved within families.
Suspect fraud? Report it now at Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk.
