Tim Godfrey successfully prosecutes in £5m football fraud case representing the SFO

February 5, 2018

Four defendants, including former professional footballers ex-Wales defender Mark Aizlewood and former Cardiff City player, Paul Sugrue were today found guilty of fraud charges following a five-month trial.

The case concerned Luis Michael Training Ltd, which ran seemingly successful football apprenticeship schemes funded by the taxpayer through the skills funding agency. The funds granted should have been used to provide education and employment opportunities for young people, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The prosecution presented their case detailing how many of the apprentices never undertook any training and those who did received far less training than the defendants had claimed.  Two further defendants, Christopher Martin and Steven Gooding pleaded guilty before the trial.

Patricia Londono was instructed as part of the disclosure counsel team.

Please click here to read the press report.