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Travel agent accused of defrauding cruise clients
A travel agent who specialised in Christian-themed holidays for 30 years is accused of defrauding customers who booked cruises on Thomson Spirit.
Instead of reserving berths on the ship for a ‘Bible Lands Cruise’, Bob Fleming of New Malden-based Living Sun Holidays allegedly used the £26,000 booking fees to renovate a hotel he had leased in Turkey.
He denied two counts of fraudulent trading and two counts of engaging in misleading commercial practice and failing to provide evidence of security when he appeared at Kingston Crown Court.
Prosecutor Richard Hallam told the jury that Fleming had tried to persuade customers who had booked a 10-day cruise starting in Turkey to stay at his hotel, according to the London Evening Standard.
When customers started asking for refunds after the cruise itinerary was changed due to trouble in the Gaza Strip, trading standards officers discovered the trips weren’t covered by ATOL and Fleming hadn’t paid for berths on the cruise.
The prosecution accept that Fleming eventually took care of his customers. The case continues.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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