'Goldfinger' wins court victory over prison authorities

ONE of Britain’s most notorious criminals, the timeshare fraudster John "Goldfinger" Palmer, won a rehearing of his claim to go to an open prison yesterday.

At the High Court in London, he was told his case to be made a low escape risk category D prisoner would be considered afresh by prison authorities.

As Palmer left the court, he shook hands with the actor Sir Roger Moore - Palmer’s solicitor is Giovanni di Stefano, and Sir Roger’s stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has been working for his firm as a legal assistant. Asked how it felt for "007 to shake hands with Goldfinger", Sir Roger joked: "I hope somehow it might rub off."

Palmer, 54, from Bath, was then led back to the cells by three security officers.

During the hearing, the judge, Mr Justice Collins, said a Home Office decision that Palmer was too high a security risk to be downgraded to category D and sent to an open prison was "fatally flawed" .

He went on: "It seems to me there must be a fresh consideration which must take into account all the material Mr Palmer has raised in these proceedings."

Palmer has always maintained he was persecuted by the police after a jury acquitted him of handling gold from the 1983 £26 million Brink’s-Mat bullion robbery at Heathrow airport. The case earned him notoriety and the nickname Goldfinger.

Then, in May 2001, he was jailed for eight years at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to defraud in one of the biggest timeshare swindles to be uncovered. A £33 million confiscation order was imposed on him, but it was overturned by the appeal court.

Last autumn, the prison service stopped Palmer, who will be eligible for release next May, being moved to Springhill open prison, in Buckinghamshire.

'Goldfinger' Launches Court Battle Against Open Prison Rebuff

One of the UK’s most notorious criminals, timeshare fraudster John “Goldfinger” Palmer, today launched a High Court battle for the right to go to an open prison.

Palmer was in court as his lawyers condemned the decision to revoke his move to Springhill Prison, Bucks, as “irrational and unfair”.

Springhill focuses on preparing and training prisoners for release.

Palmer, who is currently at Highdown in Sutton, Surrey, was due to be moved to Springhill last year.

Mr Justice Collins, sitting in London, was told he had now paid a £2.2 million compensation order.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is opposing his application for judicial review on the grounds that he could not be trusted and remains an escape risk.

Palmer, 54, of Bath, was jailed for eight years at the Old Bailey in May 2001 for conspiracy to defraud in one of the biggest timeshare frauds to be uncovered.

A £33 million confiscation order was imposed on him, but it was overturned by the appeal court on the basis there had been crucial flaws in the procedure followed.

Later the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, sitting with four other appeal court judges, ruled that the court had misunderstood and misapplied the law and Palmer’s case had been wrongly decided.

Lord Woolf said he hoped the decision would put an end to the “string of appeals” against conviction orders sparked by the Palmer case.

But Palmer was still allowed to keep the money as the original decision to quash his confiscation order could not be overturned.

Palmer defended himself throughout his fraud trial and claimed he was a legitimate businessman, not involved in anything fraudulent.

He maintained that he had been persecuted by the police after a jury acquitted him of handling gold from the 1983 £26 million Brink’s-Mat bullion robbery at Heathrow airport.

The case earned him notoriety and the nickname Goldfinger.

He moved to Tenerife to set up his timeshare business in the 1980s. Palmer’s lover Christine Ketley, of Brentwood, Essex, was also convicted of conspiracy to defraud.

Today his QC Alan Newman said Palmer had initially been held in category B, then C and was reduced to category D in November last year.

In accordance with standard practice, arrangements were made for him to be allocated to an open prison, but then he was told the move had been blocked and he was being re-categorised to C.

The QC argued there was no proper basis for the decision to prevent Palmer’s re-allocation to open conditions. The decision was taken unfairly and flawed by procedural irregularity.

Jenni Richards, appearing for the Home Secretary, is expected to argue that the judgment of the prison authorities was that Palmer could not be trusted in open conditions and did represent a serious risk of escape.

Marriott Vacation Club Reveals Plans for First Las Vegas Resort; Sales Begin for the Future Marriott's Grand Chateau, Located on The Strip

International (MVCI), the vacation ownership division of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR - News) announced today the start of sales and construction for its first resort in Nevada. Overlooking the Las Vegas strip, Marriott's Grand Chateau will include 888 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas in four connected 38- story towers. Opening prices range from $10,140 to $29,900 per week of deeded ownership, depending on villa type and season purchased. Initial occupancy is slated for October 2005.

"In our ongoing commitment to provide world-class resort options for our vacation owners, we are thrilled to add this vibrant destination to our global resort portfolio," said Stephen P. Weisz, president of Marriott Vacation Club International. "Located in the heart of the Las Vegas strip, Marriott's Grand Chateau offers outstanding access to every imaginable shopping, entertainment and activity that vacationers here are looking for."

With designs inspired by the celebrated estates of the French country, Marriott's Grand Chateau will offer vacation owners spectacular views of either the Las Vegas strip or the mountain ranges that bring life to the Nevada landscape. Villas range from 823 to 2,171 square feet of living space, comfortably accommodating up to twelve guests in the three-bedroom floor plan. Each spacious villa will include a fully equipped kitchen, separate living and dining areas, washer and dryer. Quality touches can be seen throughout, such as granite countertops, ceramic tile, multiple televisions including a 42" Plasma Display Television, DVD and stereo in the living room, and a deep soaking tub and oversized shower with dual shower heads in the master bath.

Marriott Vacation Club International is the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership with a program highly regarded for its quality and unique flexibility. In 1984, Marriott became the first branded hospitality company by nearly a decade to enter the timeshare industry. Now celebrating 20 years of making vacation dreams come true for its owners and guests, MVCI continues to expand with a diverse portfolio of 6,500 timeshare resort villas throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Today, more than 250,000 vacation owners in all 50 states and 143 countries own their vacations "the Marriott way," offering options to exchange weeks with priority within the MVCI portfolio, trade their week(s) for Marriott Rewards points or exchange within Interval International's global system of 2,000 resorts in 75 countries. For more information on vacation ownership or villa rentals, please visit online at http://www.marriottvacationclub.com or call (866) 300-3032.