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Ex-travel boss guilty of £226m property investment scam

Destinations
James Chapple
11 August 2022

The man behind a string of Caribbean hotel developments, including St Vincent’s Buccament Bay, faces jail after being convicted for his leading role in a £226 million property fraud which duped thousands of unwitting investors.

Buccament Bay scammer jailed

Pollard appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing (Credit: iStock)

Harlequin Group boss David Ames was behind the Buccament Bay project, which promised a big resort style unusual among smaller Caribbean islands.

It was heavily plugged to the trade and timed to coincide with the opening of a new airport on the island in 2017, promising football coaching by former stars among its activities.

However, the 700-acre site saw only 134 rooms developed and closed in 2016. The area was acquired by Sandals Resorts International in 2020 with plans to  develop it into a Beaches property.