FORMER Scotland rugby star Kenny Logan has told a court he was unwittingly taken in by the fantasy life of a multi-million-pound fraudster who was a passionate rugby fan.
Gerald Porter, 51, cheated his firm Greenfield Property Management Limited out of millions of pounds to lead a luxury lifestyle with his wife Jacqui, jurors heard. He spent part of the cash on the Wasps rugby union side.
Mr Logan, a former Wasps winger and the husband of sports presenter Gabby Logan, told Southwark Crown Court, London, he believed Mr Porter was a property developer who was "happily spending money and I knew no reason to believe he was dodgy".
Mr Porter was well known in the world of rugby and "he had the fast cars and consistently spent money for years", he said.
Mr Logan was giving evidence in the trial of Jacqui Porter, 40, of London, who denies a single count of concealing or converting proceeds of crime. She denies any knowledge of her husband's fraud.
The jury was told Mr Logan recalled Mr Porter was "very well known at Wasps and was the go-to man when it came to sponsorship".
David Aaronberg, defending, told Mr Logan: "You, like a number of other people, were completely had by Mr Porter."
Mr Logan, 42, replied: "This man was extremely plausible."
Mr Porter donated £100,000 of Greenfield cash to Championship side London Scottish while the west London-based club were struggling financially and in the fourth tier of the English rugby league.
Prosecutor William Boyce, QC, took Mr Logan through his July 2011 police statement in which he had described Mr Porter as "very likeable" and said he was passionate about rugby.
Mr Logan had noted: "He always drove expensive vehicles and was often seen around at functions in his Bentley, which changed to a Land Rover Sport. He would also think nothing of hiring helicopters to fly people to events."
Mr Porter put £100,000 into a joint venture in the London Scottish club, which also included Mr Logan.
Mr Porter sponsored an end-of-season dinner that Mr Logan believed would have cost about £15,000. He also recalled Mr Porter had paid £5,816 for a table at a dinner that he never used.
Mr Logan said he also felt a little guilty because he trusted Mr Porter enough to introduce him to his mother-in-law Christine Yorath, who had a property investment opportunity.
Mr Logan recalled that in early 2010 Mr Porter told him he was "in trouble" and he had stolen money. Mr Logan said he told him to leave his home and he has not seen him since. The star added: "I feel entirely let down by Mr Porter. I acted in good faith in everything I did with him."
The hearing continues.
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