Victims who lost millions to a wind turbine scam have united to fight for justice.
The Daily Record previously revealed how Scots green energy expert Dr Paul Dougan ran a business that swindled £4million from scores of investors. Geoscientist Dougan was hit with a 14-year director ban after a probe by the Insolvency Service found investors’ cash was used to fund properties instead of wind farm projects.
It slammed the “appalling scam” which robbed investors of savings – some up to £150,000 each.
Now a group of more than 100 victims have set up a fighting fund to cover legal costs in a bid to claw back anything they can. Tony Clarke, 73, from Essex, brought victims together after discovering there was no planning permission being granted for the wind farms he had ploughed £20,000 into.
He told the Record how lives had been “wrecked” and believes the true sum of money is far greater.
He said: “It’s all about justice now.”
One 77-year-old from Glasgow, who paid £10,000 in, said: “The immediate reaction from the public is, ‘How could you all fall for this scam?’
“I have a residual hope we can get some form of justice but I have resigned myself to the loss of my money. These people deserve the full force of the law.”
Another investor from Aberdeenshire handed over £10,000 and was pressured to invest more. The 62-year-old said: “The literature they had about the windfarm company was very good. It all looked so legit.
“They kept wanting more and more money but I was dubious. My husband wanted to put in more but I knew in my heart there was something not right.
“I then saw something on Facebook which said it was a scam.”
The couple have now paid more cash to the £40,000 fighting fund.
She added: “Honest people have been screwed out of their money. I don’t think we’ll ever see our money back again but we will keep trying.”
We told in November how investors were “misled” into putting cash into a wind turbine scheme before Dougan’s firm went bust owing £4.3million.
Dougan, who the Record traced to Glasgow’s Lambhill, claimed he was not to blame and on benefits.
The former Glasgow Caledonian University lecturer, 54, who drives a Mercedes 4x4, claimed he was a “stupid person who trusted other people” and was appealing his ban.
The UK’s Insolvency Service said Dougan caused his firm DCR (Series 2) to fail to provide services or to safeguard investor cash.
The firm used the cash from investors – who were told it would fund Scots wind turbine projects – for property developments.
Funds given to DCR were sent to the bank account of its parent firm. A large proportion was spent on property or other firms.
Investors were told their cash was government- protected and insured.
Dougan faced 147 charges in Northern Ireland but prosecutors withdrew the case to carry out further investigation.
Last night, Dougan said: “I never sold an investment to a single investor. Prior to our company account being frozen in 2017, we refunded 100 per cent of investors their full investment to those who requested it.
“I welcome the opportunity for my representatives to meet with investors to negotiate a solution and assist them in devising a workable strategy to achieve the full return.”
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