The fraudster ex of Made in Chelsea star Victoria Baker-Harber claims he carried out a £65 million Ponzi scheme because of drink and drugs in London‘s art world.
Inigo Philbrick was described as a ‘serial swindler’ as he admitted to conning investors out of millions of pounds at a New York court hearing in November last year.
He was arrested by the FBI on the pacific island of Vanuatu following allegations he sold the same art works to different investors, sometimes at inflated prices, in order to get money to pay for others.
In documents supplied to the court, Philbrick’s legal team have said his substance abuse, which intensified after entering London’s art scene, had contributed to his fraudulent offending.
The court heard that Philbrick, who had a baby with Ms Baker-Harber in November 2020, had a reputation for ‘hard drinking’, The Times reports.
Documents said he would ‘begin drinking alcohol at lunch’ and would continue ‘throughout the day’, as well as ‘often using illegal drugs’.
The court heard that this is ‘how art deals are done’.
Inigo Philbrick pictured with former partner Victoria Baker-Harber, of Made in Chelsea fame, whom he had a baby in November 2020
Made in Chelsea socialite Victoria Baker-Harber poses in a picture poster to her Instagram page
Victoria pictured with Jamie Laing (right) having lunch during an episode of Made in Chelsea in 2017
Philbrick (pictured) admitted conning investors out of millions of pounds and…
