In early 2016, I found myself overlooking the stunning Ligurian Sea from a vantage point in the Cinque Terre, a place that exudes magic and serenity. Nestled on a hill above Riomaggiore, with views stretching towards Monte Carlo in the northwest and Elba in the southwest, I had acquired one of the most desirable properties on earth—a stone house with a vineyard producing the famous and expensive Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà wine. This paradise was located in the Bay of Poets, a region that has inspired literary giants like Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Dante Alighieri, whose works echo the beauty and mystique of the area.
At that time, life seemed perfect. I had just sold my share in JWK Solicitors in Lancaster and moved to Tuscany, where I was involved in a relocation business partnering with Mata Hari/MH (name changed), a European national based in Lucca. The property, which promised both significant personal satisfaction and substantial investment potential, for strategic reasons was purchased in MH’s sole name.
The funds for the purchase came entirely from me, bolstered by additional financing I raised due to my professional status. I had placed my trust in MH, not just as a business partner but as a friend. The agreement was that all the interest in the property belonged to me and the rental income from the property would be deposited into our joint account after expenses.
However, in 2018, after leaving the relocation business on good terms with MH to focus on.