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PODCAST

Heists, Scams & Lies

David Ames was a twice-bankrupt double-glazing salesman from Basildon with dreams of building a Caribbean property empire. His company, Harlequin, promised ordinary investors luxury resort properties at bargain prices – their slice of paradise and financial security.Over nearly a decade, more than 8,000 people handed over £400 million. Many bet their entire pension pots on Ames" vision.But behind Ames’ slick marketing pitch lay financial chaos and systematic deception. While investors waited for

true crime

All Episodes

35:09

Walter Mitty | Episode 5

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/10/30

After David Ames's conviction, the hosts receive an unexpected message from his son Dan, insisting his father is innocent. Soon after, they find themselves sitting in Carol Ames's bungalow, listening to the convicted fraudster's wife defend him. As Carol dismisses every piece of evidence that convinced the jury, a troubling question emerges: Is this elaborate denial, or does the Ames family genuinely believe their own version of events? Meanwhile, thousands of victims still face the consequences of

en

32:15

The Wreckage | Episode 4

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/10/23

After years of selling Caribbean dreams, David Ames's empire finally crumbles. This episode exposes the network of independent financial advisors who earned millions in commissions for pushing Harlequin properties onto unsuspecting investors. Over 8,000 people lost nearly £400 million, with many elderly victims seeing their pensions vanish overnight.In 2017, the Serious Fraud Office charged Ames with fraud. After a dramatic 3 month trial, the jury in David Ames’ case returns…If you have any

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34:00

The Storm Hits | Episode 3

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/10/16

Desperate investors fly to the Caribbean, only to find a building site. When some speak out online, expensive London lawyers send threatening letters. Behind closed doors, disgruntled former employees tip off the Serious Fraud Office. Investigator John McCarroll begins asking the critical question: is Harlequin a struggling business or something far more sinister? As expert advisors deliver their devastating assessment, David Ames faces a choice that will determine the fate of the thousands who

en

34:08

Pirates in the Caribbean | Episode 2

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/10/09

It’s 2008 and business is booming at Harlequin. But Ames is spending investor money at an alarming rate – on pirate ships, imported sand, even plans for a private airline. Meanwhile, construction at Buccament Bay is spiralling into chaos. Builders vanish with millions. Accountants and contractors become suspiciously close friends. When Ames finally visits the site, he's shocked by what he finds. Back in Britain, investors discover their promised properties are still empty plots of land, years past

en

32:31

The Big Sell | Episode 1

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/10/09

A balmy evening in 2009. Steel drums, champagne, and celebrity endorsements. David Ames – a twice-bankrupt salesman from Essex – unveils his vision: Caribbean paradise resorts where ordinary people can own property for just £1,000. With backing from football legends, tennis stars, and property guru Phil Spencer, thousands of investors hand over life savings and pension pots. But who is David Ames? What experience does he have building international resorts? As money floods in and construction

en

1:52

Introducing... The Lost Caribbean Millions

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/09/17

David Ames was a twice-bankrupt double-glazing salesman from Basildon with dreams of building a Caribbean property empire. His company, Harlequin, promised ordinary investors luxury resort properties at bargain prices – their slice of paradise and financial security.Over nearly a decade, more than 8,000 people handed over £400 million. Many bet their entire pension pots on Ames' vision.But behind Ames’ slick marketing pitch lay financial chaos and systematic deception. While investors waited for

en

43:58

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | Treasure...

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/20

With the chief suspect behind bars, some of their closest associates are ready to talk. Gently, over the course of nearly a year, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring follow a trail. Their enquiries eventually lead them to one person, who they believe might have some key information. One day, in a taxi coming back from a job in Europe, Andy gets a call… and it’s the stuff of journalists’ dreams. A source tells them that he knows where the diamonds are. So, armed with a terrifying briefing

en

42:28

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | Treasure...

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/20

With the chief suspect behind bars, some of their closest associates are ready to talk. Gently, over the course of nearly a year, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring follow a trail. Their enquiries eventually lead them to one person, who they believe might have some key information. One day, in a taxi coming back from a job in Europe, Andy gets a call… and it’s the stuff of journalists’ dreams. A source tells them that he knows where the diamonds are. So, armed with a terrifying briefing from a

en

32:08

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Chase

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/13

Reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring’s investigation into the Ecclestone diamond heist is now well underway, and, in this episode, they’re off to Europe to make enquiries.George heads to Milan to meet Francesco Giustolisi of the Milanese police’s Flying Squad, where makes a remarkable discovery about one of Daniel Vukovic’s 19 aliases… And Andy goes to Serbia, also on the trail of the mysterious Daniel Vukovic, who appears to be hiding out in Belgrade. He traces him to his home town of

en

32:08

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Chase

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/13

Reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring’s investigation into the Ecclestone diamond heist is now well underway, and, in this episode, they’re off to Europe to make enquiries.George heads to Milan to meet Francesco Giustolisi of the Milanese police’s Flying Squad, where makes a remarkable discovery about one of Daniel Vukovic’s 19 aliases… And Andy goes to Serbia, also on the trail of the mysterious Daniel Vukovic, who appears to be hiding out in Belgrade. He traces him to his home town of

en

34:14

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Sting

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/06

In 2020, the first arrests are made over the Ecclestone heist, but, after an eight-week trial – one in which George almost accidentally found himself in possession of evidence that directly contradicted the prosecution’s case – all four of those arrested are cleared of taking part in the plot. But these were just members of the gang’s ‘support team’. In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring take listeners to Italy, and reveal how those higher up the chain of command eventually ran

en

34:14

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Sting

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/05/06

In 2020, the first arrests are made over the Ecclestone heist, but, after an eight-week trial – one in which George almost accidentally found himself in possession of evidence that directly contradicted the prosecution’s case – all four of those arrested are cleared of taking part in the plot. But these were just members of the gang’s ‘support team’. In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring take listeners to Italy, and reveal how those higher up the chain of command eventually ran

en

30:49

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Hunt

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/29

After the heist, Detective Constable Andrew Payne and his team had very little to go on – just the grainy home security footage, two burner phones and a screwdriver left behind by the burglars. In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring take listeners to the heart of the police investigation, via a gripping blow by blow account of how the police eventually managed to close in on the suspects via hours of CCTV footage, trawling through 1,007 black cabs, and… an unusual picture. If you

en

30:49

The Hunt

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/29

After the heist, Detective Constable Andrew Payne and his team had very little to go on – just the grainy home security footage, two burner phones and a screwdriver left behind by the burglars. In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring take listeners to the heart of the police investigation, via a gripping blow by blow account of how the police eventually managed to close in on the suspects via hours of CCTV footage, trawling through 1,007 black cabs, and… an unusual picture. If

en

33:55

The Heist

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/22

In December 2019, international jewel thieves ransacked the home of Tamara Ecclestone and stole £2million worth of loot in the biggest burglary in British history. The thieves took every piece of jewellery Ecclestone owned, snatched her husband’s watches and desecrated their £75million mansion on Kensington’s Billionaire’s Row.Who were the thieves? How did they do it? In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jering hear from Tamara Ecclestone’s husband, Jay Rutland, and Detective

en

33:55

The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds | The Heist

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/22

In December 2019, international jewel thieves ransacked the home of Tamara Ecclestone and stole £2million worth of loot in the biggest burglary in British history. The thieves took every piece of jewellery Ecclestone owned, snatched her husband’s watches and desecrated their £75million mansion on Kensington’s Billionaire’s Row.Who were the thieves? How did they do it? In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jering hear from Tamara Ecclestone’s husband, Jay Rutland, and Detective Constable

en

4:14

Coming Soon... S1: The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's...

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/11

Coming soon... Heists, Scams & Lies, Series 1: The Hunt For Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds. It was supposed to be impenetrable. A palatial home on London’s Billionaires’ Row, guarded round-the-clock by ex-military security, in one of the most heavily-patrolled streets in the country. And yet, on a cold night in December 2019, a group of audacious thieves pulled off the perfect burglary, slipping inside the Kensington home of Formula 1 heiress, Tamara Ecclestone and vanishing into the night with an

en

2:44

Coming Soon... S1: The Hunt for Tamara Ecclestone's...

Heists, Scams & Lies ·

2025/04/11

Coming soon... Heists, Scams & Lies, Series 1: The Hunt For Tamara Ecclestone's Diamonds. It was supposed to be impenetrable. A palatial home on London’s Billionaires’ Row, guarded round-the-clock by ex-military security, in one of the most heavily-patrolled streets in the country.And yet, on a cold night in December 2019, a group of audacious thieves pulled off the perfect burglary, slipping inside the Kensington home of Formula 1 heiress, Tamara Ecclestone and vanishing into the night with an

en

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