The ringleader of a gang of fraudsters who defrauded thousands of holidaymakers has launched an appeal.
Christakis Phillippou of Bark Place, Bayswater, has lodged a bid to be granted an appeal with the Court of Appeal in London. A spokesman for the court said it had received no bid from any of the other members of the group.
Phillippou and co-conspirators Peter Kemp, Evangelia Liogka and Timothy Entwisle were sentenced to a total of 18 years in jail last month.
They were found guilty of conspiring to defraud thousands of holidaymakers on February 26 at Southwark Crown Court.
The group set up five separate companies between July 2003 and August 2006 and sold high volumes of discounted holidays. They pocketed customers’ money before closing down and leaving them empty-handed.
A confiscation hearing is scheduled for November, when the court will decide how much money must be repaid by the group.