David Ames, 70, fraudulently abused his position as chair of Harlequin Group by exposing more than 8,000 investors to "huge" losses between 2010 and 2015.
Victims parted with pensions and life savings, believing their money would be invested in holiday properties in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Barbados and other Caribbean nations.
In reality, the scheme had no external funding and never delivered what was promised. Almost no properties were constructed and 99% of those who invested made no return.
