A UK court on Wednesday sentenced Shelley Simpson, the 46-year-old former director of Sphere Events Limited, to two years and nine months in prison for fraudulent trading. Simpson admitted to defrauding 47 customers of nearly £300,000 between 2019 and 2022 by promising discounted luxury holidays and exclusive events that were never booked.

Prosecutors at Portsmouth Crown Court described the operation as a Ponzi scheme, where funds from new clients were used to cover older debts and personal liabilities. Evidence revealed that Simpson diverted customer money to pay approximately £18,000 in annual private school fees for her children and funded home renovations. One victim reportedly lost over £37,000 for a family holiday to Barbados that did not exist.

The court heard that Simpson frequently fabricated booking confirmations and altered documents to mislead clients. Investigators also discovered that Simpson had a prior caution from 2016 for transferring £4,500 from a previous employer into a personal account. Defence counsel argued that Simpson suffered from bipolar disorder and became trapped in a cycle of debt, rather than funding a lavish lifestyle.

Judge William Ashworth imposed an eight-year ban on Simpson serving as a company director, citing her 'callous disregard' for the financial and emotional distress caused to victims. Simpson begins her custodial sentence immediately, with the court expected to handle any further proceeds-of-crime applications in subsequent hearings.