There is no fairy tale without a villain, as the story tellers warn us.
However, when the villain turns out to be the author of the books you've invested your time, money, and energy into, the villain becomes nothing more than a common scoundrel. In such instances, storytellers reassure us that the forces of good must take action to expose and ultimately eliminate the parasite, eventually wipes it off the face of the earth, restoring balance to the narrative.
Since the end of 2017 I have lent to Toby Mott, the books’ author, money for personal use, not related to books, fairs, etc, but to pay his bills, friends and survive, and eventually start doing something useful...as he said on his demands. It was an act of generosity (and pityness) and sadly a generosity that brings you misery long term…
Overall, he owes me, Corina Manu, £50K, in personal loans.
In 2021 I forewarned him that the money must be paid back and in preparation I handed him over the file with all the payments I made, and he must return.
After many demands and terms that I gave him, through emails and personal, face to face, he avoided the accountability and had no decency to start returning the money or make any commitment to do so.
But put his girlfriend, Pippa Hill, to try to trick me in believing he is bankrupt, out of money thus proliferating the chain of lies and dishonesty.
And, as per the same girlfriend information, he does such scums, as a dedicated job, for at least 20 years (see emails in the link provided).
Therefore, I was left with no option but to file for bankruptcy (August 2022).
An guess what...he sent messages of intimidation to my solicitors, trying to play the victim.
After a first court hearing in March 2023, a half day hearing was set up for 6th October 2023 and from what was left from the goodness of my heart, I even agreed on making him an offer...
Anyhow, the Earth turns anticlockwise sometime and, another blow: a London metro and train strike was announced for the Friday, the 6th Oct.
Therefore, the court decided to hold the hearing…remotely, on Teams, not half day, no cross examination but a real weird, court travesty; an ad-hoc judge who didn’t know the case and had to rely on the logorrheic barrister version, a hurry up procedure to fit into 1h11m25s + 15 min for the decision...a real parody.
In the end the judge went for technicality, arguing that I circumvent my way, filing for bankruptcy and my defence layer was not able to sustain the evidence to the contrary although she had enough of it.
The judge of the day decided to set aside my statutory demand, without finding the debtor not guilty as charged though.
In my book, Toby Mott remains a fraudulent old male without shame, decency or honour and must pay his liabilities, which extend to more than money.
Cross examination trial to follow.
The versed con artists (cowards by nature) have the survival skills (cunning, adaptability, and a lack of moral restraint) of cloaking their true nature with a veneer of charm and friendliness and many times I wonder how/why these kind of scumbags don't succumb to the weight of shame, or the earth doesn't open under their feet and swallows them...!!
Their ability to navigate the social landscape with such adeptness leaves us questioning the boundaries of trust and honesty.
Hopefully, his daughter with Louise Galvin, grew up in a healthy environment and protected.
I am posting this story because it is my belief that Dishonesty (crooks), deceitfulness, gaslighting, Sense of Entitlement, to name a few, must be always exposed and sanctioned by any means available...just like in the timeless theme of fairy tales, although this is a pathetic and shameful real-world reality.
I delayed the publishing, giving the debtor yet another chance to redeem himself and assume accountability…in vain though.
You might say: No good deed goes unpunished…not this time...!!
Related artefacts at the link below:
PS1 It is hard to avoid the collateral damages.
In silence or in chaos, the books will always be good companions, love them for what they are..!!
It firmly belief that books should enlighten, delight, and inspire.
The author fails to adequately represent them (I already used the straight words for this)...and that won't change..!!