Words: Ashley Rigg
Published: 24th February 2010
World Cup hero “abused” by property agent
England's 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst claims his name was “used and abused” by a British estate agent selling off-plan property in Marbella, Spain.
Sir Geoff Hurst told London's high court yesterday that Mark Cordner, who he believed owned and had the legal right sell off-plan development Aloha Royal near Marbella, had deceived him and six other investors.
They claim that, because of Cordner's alleged deceit, negligent misstatement and wrongful conspiracy, they handed over the full purchase price up front and without security for seven off-plan apartments. They say their rights over the properties have now either been destroyed or rendered worthless. Sir Geoff Hurst claims he has personally lost £600,000.
Mr Cordner says he was merely a salesman for another man Michael Hone, whose whereabouts are unknown. He denies he acted deceitfully or negligently and claims he has also lost money to Hone.
Hurst’s legal team allege that Hone and Cordner were partners in a “cynical scheme” although Hurst initially considered Hone to be “the boss”.
Lack of due diligence
Hurst said that he did virtually no research and took no legal advice, as Cordner said that his in-house lawyer would deal with the legal work.
"It is easy to say in hindsight, but if I'd seen the documents, we wouldn't have gone anywhere near this" said Hurst.
Hurst denied that he became friends with Hone, although he had a few meals with him, he and his wife, Judith, stayed in a cottage at Hone's Spanish home and they attended his wedding.
Promotion was “absolute lies”
Hurst’s expressed remorse that his involvement in the project indirectly led a number of investors purchasing units in the development. "I feel some remorse at becoming involved and allowing my name to be used and abused in the way it has been. Most of the people I have been associated with have been very forgiving of my role" he told the court.
Hurst alleges that promotional materials contained "absolute lies" about his involvement, such as that the World Cup team was coming over and that he was designing a golf course which, Hurst said – for an ex-footballer – was "ludicrous".
The case continues…
Full story on Guardian
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User Comments
Whilst having a certain amount of sympathy for Sir Geoff Hurst and the others who he got involved with this situation, why would anyone hand over £600,000 without taking some form of legal advice or doing some form due diligence?
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people, some of them high profile individuals who must surround themselves with advisors end up in this kind of situation.
As a professional real estate agent based on the Costa del Sol I would relish the opportunity of representing these people in an honest and professional manner, however they always seem to want to deal with the wrong people.
In my experience one of the reasons is greed, they believe what is being told to them and not the actual facts which get presented from people like me and therefore most of the time only have themselves to blame, however always get the media involved when things go wrong.
When are the press going to start writing about all the thousands of POSITIVE transactions which take place each and every year and the many, many people who love not only Marbella but the Costa del Sol in general instead of always trying to put a slur on an area which attracts more property purchases from Europeans than anywhere else in Europe?
If there are any people out there who wish to be treated with honesty and integrity please get in touch with me.
Ken Spencer,
Property Options Spain
With respect to Sir Geoff, he has 'left his brain on the plane' in putting down that amount of money without independent property and legal advice. We could have checked the developement proposals and values. He should also be suing the Spanish lawyer who obviously didn't do the due diligence.
Surveyor,
Survey Spain Chartered Surveyors