A FORMER Wickford-based businessman has been awarded millions of pounds in damages over a Caribbean resort development at a High Court hearing in London.

David Ames, who runs a company called Harlequin, brought action against Wilkins Kennedy, a firm of accountants and business advisors.

Martin MacDonald, a partner in Wilkins Kennedy, acted as Harlequin’s accountant and business advisor between 2006 and 2010.

It arose over delays to work at the development of a luxury resort at Buccament Bay, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, in the Caribbean.

At Monday’s hearing, Mr Justice Coulson awarded Mr Ames $23,261,941 in US dollars (about £18,200,000) in damages.

Mr Justice Coulson concluded that Mr Ames was “dishonest” but was poorly advised.

He said: “Mr Ames described himself as a visionary. In my view, that is not an apt description.

“I consider that he was more of a Walter Mitty-type figure who, through an unhappy mixture of dishonesty, naivety and incompetence, has caused irreparable loss to thousands of people.

“But I consider that one of the reasons for this disastrous chain of events was that no one reined him in or explained to him the basic commercial realities of what he was undertaking.

“The only consultant that he employed who appeared to be involved in every important element of the Harlequin business model was Mr MacDonald of Wilkins Kennedy. This case centres on the extent (if at all) to which Mr MacDonald should have advised Mr Ames to take a different course.”

Mr Justice Coulson added that there remains a serious fraud investigation which is ongoing against Harlequin.

The Serious Fraud Office, together with Essex Police, is investigating the Harlequin Group of companies, includes the marketing, sale and construction of luxury off-plan property developments in the Caribbean and other locations.