A bullying property tycoon who devastated the lives of his clients in a £3.5 million luxury houseboats fraud has been jailed for 12 years.
Myck Djurberg, 64, sold a “dream” of first-class living on a marina resort at the Hampton Riviera, convincing customers to hand over hundreds of thousands for luxury houseboats.
But he did not have planning permission for the houseboats on the banks of the Thames in Richmond, and then sold them without residential mooring licences.
When the victims later learned about the true position, they said “charming” Djurberg the salesman turned “incandescent with rage” and deluged them with furious and threatening emails.
At Kingston crown court on Wednesday, Djurberg was sentenced to 12 years in prison, as his victims came forward to detail harrowing ordeals that have left them destitute, depressed, and suicidal.
Judge Martyn Barklem said Djurberg had taken a “characteristically bullying approach” to disputes with clients, dragging them through years of civil litigation, and continuing during his criminal trial.
“You went from charming when seeking to sell to aggression and nastiness when challenged”, said the judge, calling Djurberg a “complex” character.
“You were able to persuade intelligent people, in part through charm, and in part through making representations that were entirely untrue, that you were in a position to grant mooring on the project site, offering an idyllic riverside lifestyle.
“But it was abundantly clear to you that there was not, and never was likely to be, residential mooring permitted on the yard.”
He said Djurberg “weaved a web of deceit” to dupe clients, selling them houseboats as part of a dream retirement, but “the dream turned to a nightmare”.
The court heard how Djurberg dragged the victims of the fraud through financially ruinous civil litigation before refusing to pay the compensation ordered, and he continued his abuse and harassment while waiting for his criminal trial.
Fiona Johnstone, who bought a houseboat from Djurberg with partner LouisSydney, won a High Court battle against him in 2017, spending their savings and selling their home to fight the legal case. But they have never received any money from the tycoon.
She outlined the “devastating” impact of moving into rented accommodation without the chance of buying their own home again.
“We have nothing but debt and a rotting boat”, she said, revealing she has suffered from suicidal thoughts and twice closed her eyes on the motorway for ten seconds “to see what would happen”.
“I thought maybe it was better that I should die”, she said.
Jennifer Small, who bought a houseboat with husband Oliver, said Djurberg had “robbed us of a significant amount of time and money to the value of £1.6 million”.
She said their ten-year ordeal derailed her career and his business interests, while their two children have “lost confidence in the world around them”.
“We have lost faith in the world and our own judgement”, she said, before describing Djurberg as a “vexatious litigant” who forced them to spend money defending themselves in spurious legal cases.
Eye surgeon Simon Keightley held back tears in court as he described seeing his “happy, confident, and highly capable wife be systematically destroyed” when they fell victim to Djurberg’s fraud.
“Anger and frustration is the best way to describe this horrific part of our lives”, he said. “I wish I had never seen this man.”
Djurberg was convicted at the end of a trial of three counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud. The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated it now intends to go after the tycoon’s assets, including his lavish imported 19th Century Swiss chalet in Surrey.
“Djurberg did not have planning consent in place to use boats for residential purposes, as dwellings nor for commercial business occupation”, said Andrew West, specialist CPS prosecutor.
“Despite this, he fraudulently sold five houseboats, financially gaining fromthe misfortune of his customers.
“Following this conviction, we will pursue confiscation proceedings to ensure that Djurberg pays back the money he gained through this criminal operation.”
In 2021, Djurberg was convicted of assault after slapping a tenant with gardening gloves before chasing him around the boatyard.
The victim, Klaus Beversluis, had come into Djurberg’s office at the Hampton Riviera boatyard in a dispute about £5,500 in charges.
In attack caught on camera, Djurberg struck Mr Beversluis on the back of the head with orange and brown gloves before arming himself with a plastic roofing tool, shouting “I will break your f***ing head”.
Djurberg was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 20 rehab sessions and three months of mental health treatment.
In the police investigation into the houseboats fraud, it was discovered that Djurberg had only acquired planning permission for leisure mooring, not residential. He had also not paid the Environment Agency for this license.
The local authority, Richmond Borough Council, which had served several enforcement notices on Djurberg, attended the location, and removed some of the unlawful pontoons.
During the course of the fraud trial, Djurberg claimed to speak 11 languages and have several academic degrees.
When giving evidence, he made a string of unfounded allegations against the victims, the police, and officials.
