Edward Blackmore, 45, of Holt, Wiltshire, has been jailed for six years and eight months for defrauding his in-laws and a finance company out of over £3 million by forging documents and making false claims about a business deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
In August 2018, Blackmore falsely claimed that his company, OGC Sport Investments, had secured a lucrative services contract with PSG. To back up his story, he forged the stamp and signature of a lawyer to make the contract appear authentic. Using this false agreement, he persuaded his in-laws to lend him £1.8 million to buy Beechwood House, a Grade II-listed property in Bath, with the promise of repaying them “shortly.”
At the same time, Blackmore obtained a short-term bridging loan of £1.68 million from a finance company, again using the fake PSG contract as collateral. He also forged his wife’s signature on the tenancy agreement to finalize the deal.
Over the next 18 months, Blackmore failed to repay both the loan from his in-laws and the finance company, offering various excuses such as bank errors. Eventually, the property was sold to recover the loan, and Blackmore’s in-laws were left with nothing.
Following a report to Action Fraud, Blackmore was investigated and later charged with three counts of fraud by false representation. He pleaded guilty to deceiving both his in-laws and the finance company.
During his sentencing at Swindon Crown Court on February 21, 2025, Blackmore was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. Victim statements from his wife and mother-in-law highlighted the profound emotional and financial impact of his actions.
Detective Constable Rachael Fairbairn from the Complex Fraud Team stated that Blackmore’s fraudulent actions had caused significant harm to his family, who now face the aftermath of his lies. A confiscation process will now begin to recover compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
