The scheme, which operated under the Sell My Timeshare brand, saw fourteen people convicted, including managing director Mark Rowe and his wife Nicola. The couple, both 54 and from Hampshire, funded a lavish lifestyle while preying on elderly owners desperate to sell their holiday homes.
Des, 73, from south London, described discovering he had lost £14,000 as “like a kick in the guts.” The loss forced him to delay his retirement and caused significant emotional distress. Des, who requested that his surname be withheld, branded the fraudsters “scum.”
How the Fraud Worked
The elaborate fraud began in 2013 and involved high-pressure sales tactics in offices across Bournemouth, York, Stratford-on-Avon, and even Tenerife. Victims were promised “Monster Credits,” described as holiday discounts and shopping vouchers that would grow in value over time.
Clients typically invested around £8,000 each. They later discovered that the credits were worthless, and in most cases, they remained liable for the costs of their timeshares.
Timeshares, which require a one-off purchase plus annual maintenance fees for lifelong use of a holiday property, were originally marketed in the 1980s and 1990s as hassle-free investments. Many owners, unable to use the properties or keep up with rising costs, became prime targets for the Rowes’ scheme.
Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Victims’ Losses
Mark Rowe used millions of pounds from victims to create the appearance of a legitimate business, including advertising campaigns, glossy brochures, websites, virtual offices, and employing accomplices.
He and Nicola Rowe personally received £8 million. Their spending included almost £1 million on home and garden improvements, £185,000 on art including a pencil sketch by LS Lowry, and £26,000 on private jet hire.
The couple’s £2.4 million Hampshire home, which has since been sold, was also financed by the fraud.
Sentences and Convictions
In August, Mark Rowe was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud. Judge Alexander Milne described him as “profoundly dishonest” and a “corrupting influence” who left a “trail of misery” for victims. Nicola Rowe received a two-year suspended sentence for money laundering.
Twelve others were convicted for their involvement, receiving prison sentences ranging from suspended terms to four-and-a-half years. Those convicted included Jodi Beard, Paul Harrison, Nihat Salih, Lisa Salih, Samantha Macaulay, Simon Walker, Joanne Physick, David Taylor, Joanne Taylor, Lee Evans, Barrie Fox, and Josephine Cuthill-Fox.
Impact on Victims
Senior investigating officer Peter Highway from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit described how Mark Rowe constantly invented new methods to deceive, including fake personas and virtual offices. Some victims died before seeing justice, highlighting the ruthless and manipulative nature of the operation.
Gayle Ramsay from the Crown Prosecution Service said the criminals had “acted in a completely selfish and manipulative manner” while exploiting elderly timeshare owners. Victims were left tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket, often losing savings meant for retirement.
Des recalled how he had been persuaded to take out a loan by the company. “We were devastated because I wanted to retire at the time, but I could not afford to,” he said. “Every phone call I made to the Bournemouth office, I got fobbed off. They do not care about us normal people. They are greedy, and they are living a life of luxury from their ill-gotten gains.”
Lessons and Warnings
The case highlights the dangers of fraudulent timeshare resale schemes, especially targeting vulnerable older people. The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit continues to urge caution and vigilance among those looking to sell or invest in timeshares.
Here’s a clear list of the 12 other people convicted in addition to Mark and Nicola Rowe, along with their sentences and locations where available:
- Jodi Beard, 43, of El Roque, Tenerife – Two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Paul Harrison, 55, of Weymouth – Four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Nihat Salih, 57, of Poole, Dorset – Three years’ imprisonment, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Lisa Salih, 56, of Poole – Two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Samantha Macaulay, 52, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife – Eighteen months’ imprisonment suspended for eighteen months, guilty of fraud by false representation (not guilty of conspiracy to defraud)
- Simon Walker, 58, of Costa Adeje, Tenerife – Four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Joanne Physick, 46, of Los Christianos, Arona, Tenerife – Two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- David Taylor, 65, of East Yorkshire – Three years’ imprisonment, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
- Joanne Taylor, 53, of East Yorkshire – Twelve months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of fraud by false representation
- Lee Evans, 51, of Preston – Two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of fraud by false representation
- Barrie Fox, 69, of Worcester – Twenty-one months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of fraud by false representation
- Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 60, of Worcester – Twenty-four months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, guilty of fraud by false representation
