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===33 Portland Place===
===33 Portland Place===
In 1996, Davenport entered into negotiations with the Government of [[Sierra Leone]] in order to refurbish their embassy, which eventually became his private residence by manoeuvring through a legal loophole to acquire it. Although the case was eventually settled with no clear victor, the British Government offered to purchase a new [[High Commission]] for Sierra Leone leaving Davenport with the property.<ref name=Independent924438/> Davenport was introduced to Professor [[Cyril Foray]] who was the former [[Foreign Minister]] and High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, during the civil war, which led to Davenport's acquisition of their former High Commission.
In 1996, Davenport was introduced to Professor [[Cyril Foray]], the former [[Foreign Minister]] and High Commissioner of [[Sierra Leone]], during that countries [[Sierra Leone Civil War|civil war]]. Davenport entered into negotiations with the [[Government of Sierra Leone]] in order to refurbish their London embassy, built in 1775 by [[Robert Adam]] and valued at £5 million. Signing a contract with Foray and manoeuvring through a legal loophole after a payment of £50,000, Davenport eventually claimed 33 Portland Place as his private residence. The government of Sierra Leone took legal action against Davenport in London in 1999, but the case was eventually settled with no clear victor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1444687/Millionaire-hails-victory-over-50000-mansion.html|title=Millionaire hails victory over £50,000 mansion|author=Richard Alleyne|publisher=The Telegraph|date=21 October 2003|accessdate=5 October 2011}}</ref> with Davenport paying the Sierra Leone government a sum in 2005 to acquire the properties freehold. The British Government offered to purchase a new [[High Commission]] for Sierra Leone, leaving Davenport with the property.<ref name=Independent924438/>


In 2005, the ''[[Sunday Mirror]]'' reported that [[orgies]] were being held at Davenport's mansion. A political strategist for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] was accused of being present by the ''Sunday Mirror'' although his party later denied his presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050320/ai_n13459362/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |title=Biggest Ever Filthy-Rich Orgy: Wpc Cops Off |work=Sunday Mirror |date=2005-03-20 |accessdate=2010-02-21 | first=GRAHAM JOHNSON | last=Investigations}}</ref>
In 2005, the ''[[Sunday Mirror]]'' reported that [[orgies]] were being held at Davenport's mansion. A political strategist for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] was accused of being present by the ''Sunday Mirror'' although his party later denied his presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050320/ai_n13459362/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |title=Biggest Ever Filthy-Rich Orgy: Wpc Cops Off |work=Sunday Mirror |date=2005-03-20 |accessdate=2010-02-21 | first=GRAHAM JOHNSON | last=Investigations}}</ref>
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In July 2010, Westminster City Council brought a charge against Davenport for allegedly breaching a noise abatement notice they had served, following a party at 33 Portland Place. The case was dismissed by Judge Purdy at Westminster City Magistrate's Court, and Davenport was awarded the sum of £28,000 in costs.<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23854050-the-real-fast-eddie-davenport.do The real fast Eddie Davenport] Tim Willis 08.07.10 ''This Is London''</ref> Later, that month Westminster City Council alleged his flamboyant parties at 33 Portland Place breached planning permissions. The council's allegations included assertions that Davenport had filled a pool with [[Courvoisier]], which guests could row across.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10659588">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10659588 |title=Council is hedonistic party pooper |date=18 July 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=29 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7890350/Swimming-pool-at-Georgian-mansion-filled-with-alcohol-for-party-goers-to-row-across.html Swimming pool at Georgian mansion 'filled with alcohol for party-goers to row across'] ''The Daily Telegraph'' 14 July 2010</ref>
In July 2010, Westminster City Council brought a charge against Davenport for allegedly breaching a noise abatement notice they had served, following a party at 33 Portland Place. The case was dismissed by Judge Purdy at Westminster City Magistrate's Court, and Davenport was awarded the sum of £28,000 in costs.<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23854050-the-real-fast-eddie-davenport.do The real fast Eddie Davenport] Tim Willis 08.07.10 ''This Is London''</ref> Later, that month Westminster City Council alleged his flamboyant parties at 33 Portland Place breached planning permissions. The council's allegations included assertions that Davenport had filled a pool with [[Courvoisier]], which guests could row across.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10659588">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10659588 |title=Council is hedonistic party pooper |date=18 July 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=29 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7890350/Swimming-pool-at-Georgian-mansion-filled-with-alcohol-for-party-goers-to-row-across.html Swimming pool at Georgian mansion 'filled with alcohol for party-goers to row across'] ''The Daily Telegraph'' 14 July 2010</ref>


Davenport has also hired out the building as an exhibition space and filming location. All Visual Arts used it for the 'Vanitas'<ref>[http://www.life.com/image/105193589 Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures] ''LIFE.COM'' 11 October 2010</ref>: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures’ exhibition for the Frieze Art Fair in 2010.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8048942/Vanitas-The-Transience-of-Earthly-Pleasures-an-exhibition-during-the-2010-Frieze-Art-Fair.html Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures, an exhibition during the 2010 Frieze Art Fair'] ''The Daily Telegraph'' October 2010</ref> In April 2010, the house doubled as [[Lionel Logue]]’s clinic in oscar winning film ''[[The King's Speech]]'' starring [[Colin Firth]].<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23916250-its-enough-to-make-king-george-speechless-set-for-firths-hit-film-was-a-sex-party-venue.do 110-room house doubled as Lionel Logue’s clinic in The King’s Speech] ''London Evening Standart'' 21 January 2011</ref> Davenport was living there during part of the filming; one scene was filmed in his bedroom.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349362/The-Kings-Speech-mansion-used-sex-parties-porn-discos-elocution-lessons.html 33 Portland Place, a Georgian property in Marylebone, was picked by the drama’s producers to shoot scenes involving speech therapist Lionel Logue helping King George VI beat his stammer.]</ref> The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, fourteen Baftas and twelve Academy Awards.<ref>[http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/ukfeaturefilms?show=16669&page=2&step=10&category= The Kings Speech] ''UK Film Council'' November 2010</ref>
Davenport has also hired out the building as an exhibition space and filming location. All Visual Arts used it for the ''Vanitas'',<ref>[http://www.life.com/image/105193589 Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures] ''LIFE.COM'' 11 October 2010</ref>: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures’ exhibition for the Frieze Art Fair in 2010.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8048942/Vanitas-The-Transience-of-Earthly-Pleasures-an-exhibition-during-the-2010-Frieze-Art-Fair.html Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures, an exhibition during the 2010 Frieze Art Fair'] ''The Daily Telegraph'' October 2010</ref> while singer [[Amy Winehouse]] used it to shot the video for [[Rehab_(Amy_Winehouse_song)|''Rehab'']]. In April 2010, the house doubled as [[Lionel Logue]]’s clinic in oscar winning film ''[[The King's Speech]]'' starring [[Colin Firth]].<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23916250-its-enough-to-make-king-george-speechless-set-for-firths-hit-film-was-a-sex-party-venue.do 110-room house doubled as Lionel Logue’s clinic in The King’s Speech] ''London Evening Standart'' 21 January 2011</ref> Davenport was living there during part of the filming; one scene was filmed in his bedroom.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349362/The-Kings-Speech-mansion-used-sex-parties-porn-discos-elocution-lessons.html 33 Portland Place, a Georgian property in Marylebone, was picked by the drama’s producers to shoot scenes involving speech therapist Lionel Logue helping King George VI beat his stammer.]</ref> The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, fourteen Baftas and twelve Academy Awards.<ref>[http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/ukfeaturefilms?show=16669&page=2&step=10&category= The Kings Speech] ''UK Film Council'' November 2010</ref>


===Patrick Cox===
===Patrick Cox===

Revision as of 21:16, 5 October 2011

Edward Davenport
Edward Davenport at 33 Portland Place, London W1
Born
Edward Ormus Sharington Davenport

(1966-07-11) 11 July 1966 (age 58)
London, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1982–present
Known forSerious fraud; founder of the Gatecrasher Balls
Websitewww.davenporttrust.com [3]
Signature
File:Edward-Davenport-signature.png

Edward Davenport (born July 11, 1966) is an English property developer and convicted fraudster.[1] He is also known for his acquisition of the former High Commission building of Sierra Leone in London, during the civil war in Sierra Leone,[2] where he hosted high profile celebrity events.[2]

Early life

The son of a restaurateur from Fulham, Davenport was educated at Frensham Heights School, Surrey, and Mander Portman Woodward,[2] where he began coordinating parties on an amateur basis.[3]

Gatecrasher Balls

In 1987 aged 19, Davenport co-founded Gatecrashers, a company that organized parties for teenagers at country houses such as Longleat and Weston Park.[4] The balls were attended by up to 10,000 party-goers at any one time, achieving national notoriety and at the height of its success it was generating £1,000,000 a year.[5] However, after an HM Customs & Excise audit, he was found to have substantially underpaid his Value Added Tax bill.[2] Convicted for tax evasion in 1990, he was sentenced to nine months in jail. Asked by Tatler magazine how he coped with two-weeks in prison, Davenport said in 2006: "Boring. There aren't many parties there."[6] The original judgement was immediately appealed, and reduced to a suspended sentence for tax fraud.[6]

Business

Following the success of the Gatecrasher Balls, Davenport turned his attention to the club industry in 1991. His ventures included joint-ownership with Piers Adam of the SW1 Club (now known as Pacha), and The Conservatory based in Derby.[4]

After selling the clubs, he established a pawnbroking business with offices in Bruton Street, Mayfair. He also owned several pubs on The King's Road, Chelsea. In 1995, Davenport concentrated on establishing a business in property development and made investments into entrepreneurial businesses in the UK, some of which he served as a Non-Executive Director.[2] After acquiring a manorial title he began to call himself "Lord Edward,"[7] although he is not a real peer.[2]

33 Portland Place

In 1996, Davenport was introduced to Professor Cyril Foray, the former Foreign Minister and High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, during that countries civil war. Davenport entered into negotiations with the Government of Sierra Leone in order to refurbish their London embassy, built in 1775 by Robert Adam and valued at £5 million. Signing a contract with Foray and manoeuvring through a legal loophole after a payment of £50,000, Davenport eventually claimed 33 Portland Place as his private residence. The government of Sierra Leone took legal action against Davenport in London in 1999, but the case was eventually settled with no clear victor,[8] with Davenport paying the Sierra Leone government a sum in 2005 to acquire the properties freehold. The British Government offered to purchase a new High Commission for Sierra Leone, leaving Davenport with the property.[2]

In 2005, the Sunday Mirror reported that orgies were being held at Davenport's mansion. A political strategist for the Conservative Party was accused of being present by the Sunday Mirror although his party later denied his presence.[9]

In July 2010, Westminster City Council brought a charge against Davenport for allegedly breaching a noise abatement notice they had served, following a party at 33 Portland Place. The case was dismissed by Judge Purdy at Westminster City Magistrate's Court, and Davenport was awarded the sum of £28,000 in costs.[10] Later, that month Westminster City Council alleged his flamboyant parties at 33 Portland Place breached planning permissions. The council's allegations included assertions that Davenport had filled a pool with Courvoisier, which guests could row across.[11][12]

Davenport has also hired out the building as an exhibition space and filming location. All Visual Arts used it for the Vanitas,[13]: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures’ exhibition for the Frieze Art Fair in 2010.[14] while singer Amy Winehouse used it to shot the video for Rehab. In April 2010, the house doubled as Lionel Logue’s clinic in oscar winning film The King's Speech starring Colin Firth.[15] Davenport was living there during part of the filming; one scene was filmed in his bedroom.[16] The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, fourteen Baftas and twelve Academy Awards.[17]

Patrick Cox

In 2008, Davenport purchased the fashion label of Patrick Cox for £2.5 million.[18] Following the sale of his business, celebrity shoe designer Patrick Cox remained on the Board of Designers.[19]

Gresham: conviction for fraud

Registered in 2005, Davenport set up Gresham Ltd that between 2007 and 2009, ran a scheme which claimed to offer loans to small businesses during the credit crunch. Targeting ambitious construction projects, companies were approached, with Gresham claiming in its marketing that it had been set-up in 1958, and today had generous financial backing.[6] After payment of a fee covering due diligence, arrangement and deposit, targets were told they would gain a loan from the multi-billion pound fund.[20] But Davenport and partners Peter Riley and Borge Andersen kept the advanced fees. Investors included Elizabeth Emanuel, who lost savings after being promised a £1 million loan.[21]

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) arrested Davenport in December 2009, after gathering evidence that Gresham had promised to fund loans worth £500 million to the ten biggest targets.[20] As a result Davenport closed Gresham and opened new company Cutting and Co to carry on the fraud.[21] In June 2011, the SFO brought 11 test cases to Westminster Magistrates Court. Davenport asked for reporting restrictions to be placed on the case.[21]

In September 2011, Davenport was convicted of advance-fee fraud at Southwark Crown Court, for a sum against Gresham of £4.5million. There were at least 51 victims of the scam, in the UK, Austria and India. Davenport was jailed for seven years and eight months.[1] Sentencing, Judge Peter Testar said: "This was a professional, sophisticated fraud which had a grave impact on its victims, decent, honest people." A further sum of £8million against undertakings provided by Cutting and Co were left to lie on the file, because Davenport had already been jailed, and banned from becoming a company director for 10 years after release from prison.[21]

Reporting restrictions were lifted in October 2011 after the final defendant, Davenport's solicitor David Horsfall, admitted fraud by false representation, after writing a letter that falsified how much money Gresham had.[20] Confiscation proceedings are due to begin in May 2012.[20]

Personal life

Interviewed by The Independent in September 2008, he commented: "Some of the girls I have around me I don't sleep with, for whatever reason, and some I do sleep with. They fall into those two categories."[2]

In October 2006 Davenport lost a £100,000 bet to his press representative Alex King, who gained entry to the West End premiere of The History Boys, and shook hands with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "'Lord' Edward Davenport jailed for fraud" (html). BBC News. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Edward Davenport: The scandalous world of Britain's most sociable socialite - Profiles, People". The Independent. London. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  3. ^ "Edward Davenport Photo Gallery [1] 2005
  4. ^ a b "Diamond geezer". London: The Independent. 5 May 1995. Retrieved 5 May 1995. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ GERRARD, LESLEY (1996-01-27). "Tycoon of teen lust - Life & Style". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  6. ^ a b c "Fast Eddie, friend to celebrities, swaps Portland Place mansion for prison cell". The Guardian. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  7. ^ Pierce, Andrew (2009-02-13). "Profile of Lord Edward Davenport". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  8. ^ Richard Alleyne (21 October 2003). "Millionaire hails victory over £50,000 mansion". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  9. ^ Investigations, GRAHAM JOHNSON (2005-03-20). "Biggest Ever Filthy-Rich Orgy: Wpc Cops Off". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  10. ^ The real fast Eddie Davenport Tim Willis 08.07.10 This Is London
  11. ^ "Council is hedonistic party pooper". The New Zealand Herald. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  12. ^ Swimming pool at Georgian mansion 'filled with alcohol for party-goers to row across' The Daily Telegraph 14 July 2010
  13. ^ Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures LIFE.COM 11 October 2010
  14. ^ Vanitas: The Transience of Earthly Pleasures, an exhibition during the 2010 Frieze Art Fair' The Daily Telegraph October 2010
  15. ^ 110-room house doubled as Lionel Logue’s clinic in The King’s Speech London Evening Standart 21 January 2011
  16. ^ 33 Portland Place, a Georgian property in Marylebone, was picked by the drama’s producers to shoot scenes involving speech therapist Lionel Logue helping King George VI beat his stammer.
  17. ^ The Kings Speech UK Film Council November 2010
  18. ^ Alexis Parr (2008-06-01). "Patrick Cox fears for his luxury shoe brand as he sells to orgies host 'Lord' Eddie Davenport". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  19. ^ Pierce, Andrew [2] "Profile of Lord Edward Davenport", February 2009
  20. ^ a b c d Louise Boyle (5 October 2011). "Self-styled lord who threw sex parties in King's Speech mansion is jailed for eight years after ripping off rich and famous in £500m con". Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d Paul Cheston (5 October 2011). "Davenport conned stars out of life savings in £4m loans scam". Eveing Standard. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  22. ^ Gardham, Duncan (05 Oct 2006). "The Prince, the prankster and a 'peer' who throws sex parties". London: Vids.myspace.com. Retrieved 05 Oct 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)

External links

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