Influencer and Entrepreneur Ben Anderson, who featured on Good Morning Britain, faces accusations of defrauding investors, allegedly stealing £8 million with his wife Sophie through their business Musicalize.
The couple have been accused of falsely promising high-profile concerts by artists like Snoop Dogg and Beyonce, demanding hefty fees from clients Lowry Trading Ltd and SAS Financing Ltd.
Despite not promoting any concerts, they allegedly created fabricated invoices and bank statements to create the illusion of effort, as stated in London's Circuit Commercial Court. Jonathan Cohen KC, representing the Claimants, asserted in court, “This is a case of theft by Mr and Mrs Anderson of £8 million.Mr and Mrs Anderson are fraudsters.”
Cohen continued on an expose of the couple as he stated:
'They have cheated the Claimants out of many millions of pounds by the pretence of seeking funding to promote concerts at which famous musicians would perform.
'There were no such concerts organised, no attempt to organise them and no prospect of those concerts ever happening.
'Mr and Mrs Anderson simply spent the money on high living.
'A close study of their bank statements reveals that almost none of the money was spent on business purposes. It was spent on high living.
'The couple said they needed £28,000 per month.This was to cover the costs of two nannies and a huge, rented house.
'It was spent on first class flights for holidays to place such as Dubai.'
Cohen's rants did not stop there as he would go on to call the couple "common or garden grifters."
Their defence, as presented to the court, states: "The Andersons initially planned to organise the concerts and were not fraudsters from the start, but the situation got out of control.
Siward Atkins, the legal representative for the defendants, informed the court that Mr. and Mrs. Anderson claim to be well-known figures in the music industry. They contested the accusation that they were incapable of organising concerts for renowned pop stars. The couple expressed their commitment to repay all debts incurred from their clients. However, unforeseen circumstances, such as the pandemic lockdowns and the tragic death of their twin babies, led to a collapse in their business.
Mr. Atkins explained to Judge Richard Pearce: 'The concerts might have happened if not for the pandemic and the extraordinary personal tragedy, the death of their twin babies.'
The case is ongoing.