Between January 2016 and November 2021, Mr Flintham, based in Blackburn, Lancashire, defrauded around 240 investors by making false representations to persuade them to invest approximately £19m in an investment scheme operated by him.

Mr Flintham made a number of fraudulent claims to investors, including about how the scheme was operated, and the profits they could and were making via the scheme. He falsified documents in order to support some of his claims.

Sentencing will take place on 26 April 2024.

Mr Flintham pleaded not guilty to a further count of carrying on regulated activity without authorisation or exemption, contrary to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.