Goldridge Stone director Russell Foot and his former colleague John Lewis are being taken to court, along with the property company Sunstone Holdings Ltd, of which Mr Foot is also a director.
And it is understood that Sunstone Holdings, in New Street, was one of the offices raided by police as part of their major investigation concerning overseas investment schemes. That investigation has also involved the former Assistant Magistrate, Ian Christmas, who has agreed not to take up his role as the Island’s Magistrate while the police inquiries continue.
Cynthia Binet (58) is suing Mr Foot, her financial adviser of almost 20 years, and Mr Lewis over claims that she was ‘induced’ into investing over £300,000, believing that one of the Florida properties was in her name.
Both men deny the allegations and stress that it had nothing to do with Goldridge Stone.
The Jersey Financial Services Commission has refused to comment publicly about Goldridge Stone, but a potential investor was told tha t the company had stopped offering investment business products and that letters had been written to their clients advising them of the company’s current position.
Miss Binet, who recently retired from running an equestrian business, said that she put her trust and confidence in both men and does not know what has happened to her money.
Mr Foot and Mr Lewis are vigorously defending the allegations against them and say that Miss Binet was ‘a sophisticated businesswoman with an independent mind’. A representative of the company has been unavailable for comment.
• Picture: The Sunstone Holdings office in New Street
