Anthony Williams, self-styled as Lord Williams of Tomintoul and known as the Laird of Tomintoul, is a British accountant and convicted fraudster.[1] He owned the title Baron of Chirnside bought with money stolen from the Metropolitan Police and was sold on at auction by the Metropolitan Police.[2]
Whilst employed as a finance officer at the Metropolitan Police in London, Williams embezzled over £5 million and used it to buy property in the Scottish village of Tomintoul.[3][4][5] In 1995, he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.[6] His life and crimes have been the subject of a documentary on BBC Scotland.[7][8] According to some residents of Tomintoul, Williams' investments in the town had large positive effects on its economy.[3]
According to a November 2023 BBC News article, Williams' current status is unclear, and his age would be 83.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Anthony Williams - Laird Of Tomintoul". thefreelibrary.com. Free Online Library. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Police fraudsters baronial title to go under hammer". The Herald. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Banks, Ken (26 November 2023). "The Laird of Tomintoul: £5m police fraudster who lorded over village". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Bennetto, Jason; Arlidge, John (20 August 1994). "Double life of 'laird' at centre of pounds 4m inquiry: Accountant with Metropolitan Police adopted village in the Highlands where his businesses employed about 40 people". Independent. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Crae, Ross (22 October 2023). "Plaid for a fool: The 'Laird of Tomintoul' fraudster who stole £5m, bought title and conned a village". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Jail for 'laird' who stole £5m. Highland 'benefactor' was civil servant who took fortune from Scotland Yard". The Herald. 20 May 1995. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Greenaway, Heather (22 October 2023). "New documentary reveals fantasy life of phoney Lord who stole £5million from Met Police". Daily Record. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Ramage, Tom (6 November 2023). "Tomintoul's 'Lord of Fraud' story is told again on BBC Scotland". The Northern Scot. Retrieved 3 December 2023.