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Chequered history of the would-be treasure hunter and why he had to walk the plank
By Echo Reporter
Comment
Cerris Francis with Paul Hallam earlier in the project.
ONE of the main men behind an ambitious plan to rescue millions of pounds worth of buried treasure has been convicted of fraud we can reveal.
Paul Hallam has now been cut adrift from the prestigious expedition, after he admitted faking qualifications to obtain more than ÂŁ150,000 in salary payments from education organisations.
The man behind the treasure hunt, Cerris Francis, who has spent 40 years researching the missing bounty, says he has severed all ties with Hallam.
The project, which is genuine and has the personal backing of Eastleigh's mayor, Councillor Roger Smith, is continuing without him.
Hallam, 56, who lives in Hamble and was declared bankrupt two years ago, is due back before a crown court in Shropshire to be sentenced on Tuesday.
He says he saw no conflict of interest between the court action and his becoming the business brains behind the expedition to find treasure, which is hidden on an island off the coast of Canada.
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Along with Mr Frances, Hallam had appealed for public help in raising the ÂŁ300,000 needed to finance the mission.
"I've nothing to hide," he told the Daily Echo.
"Yes, I was a fool some years ago. I put down that I was a company director when I was not.
"But there is not a conflict of interest because I've done this sort of thing before.
"I've been an open book all along."
Several years ago Hallam said he had headed a company that had helped to raise thousands of pounds to put computers into schools in Kenya.
He said that work, for which he says he received no money, gave him the experience needed to help with the business side of raising the cash necessary to make the project a reality.
He believes he still has plenty to offer the expedition.
"I would like to be involved with the project somewhere down the line, but that's up to Cerris," he said.
But clearly Mr Francis disagrees.
The man who has dedicated much of his life to researching the legends of notorious British pirates and their ill-gotten gains says he has already cut all ties with Hallam.
Mr Francis, 67, from Southampton, is still hopeful of securing the funding he needs to enable him to begin the expedition to Oak Island, off Nova Scotia, later this year.
"Hell would have to freeze over before I got involved with him again," said Mr Francis, "We cut our ties and I don't want to be associated with him at all.
"I just count myself lucky that we found out about him before we got into real business. It might have cost us two months, but otherwise we've not been damaged by him."
Cllr Smith has now been installed as the project's new patron, and says he is happy Hallam is no longer involved.
"I was personally very concerned about him, but I am friends with Mr Francis and I urged him to cut his ties," he said.
An antiques dealer, Cllr Smith is backing the campaign as a personal interest and is clear that his support is not in his role as the Mayor of Eastleigh.
Today
kenb
By Echo Reporter
Comment
Cerris Francis with Paul Hallam earlier in the project.
ONE of the main men behind an ambitious plan to rescue millions of pounds worth of buried treasure has been convicted of fraud we can reveal.
Paul Hallam has now been cut adrift from the prestigious expedition, after he admitted faking qualifications to obtain more than ÂŁ150,000 in salary payments from education organisations.
The man behind the treasure hunt, Cerris Francis, who has spent 40 years researching the missing bounty, says he has severed all ties with Hallam.
The project, which is genuine and has the personal backing of Eastleigh's mayor, Councillor Roger Smith, is continuing without him.
Hallam, 56, who lives in Hamble and was declared bankrupt two years ago, is due back before a crown court in Shropshire to be sentenced on Tuesday.
He says he saw no conflict of interest between the court action and his becoming the business brains behind the expedition to find treasure, which is hidden on an island off the coast of Canada.
advertisement
Along with Mr Frances, Hallam had appealed for public help in raising the ÂŁ300,000 needed to finance the mission.
"I've nothing to hide," he told the Daily Echo.
"Yes, I was a fool some years ago. I put down that I was a company director when I was not.
"But there is not a conflict of interest because I've done this sort of thing before.
"I've been an open book all along."
Several years ago Hallam said he had headed a company that had helped to raise thousands of pounds to put computers into schools in Kenya.
He said that work, for which he says he received no money, gave him the experience needed to help with the business side of raising the cash necessary to make the project a reality.
He believes he still has plenty to offer the expedition.
"I would like to be involved with the project somewhere down the line, but that's up to Cerris," he said.
But clearly Mr Francis disagrees.
The man who has dedicated much of his life to researching the legends of notorious British pirates and their ill-gotten gains says he has already cut all ties with Hallam.
Mr Francis, 67, from Southampton, is still hopeful of securing the funding he needs to enable him to begin the expedition to Oak Island, off Nova Scotia, later this year.
"Hell would have to freeze over before I got involved with him again," said Mr Francis, "We cut our ties and I don't want to be associated with him at all.
"I just count myself lucky that we found out about him before we got into real business. It might have cost us two months, but otherwise we've not been damaged by him."
Cllr Smith has now been installed as the project's new patron, and says he is happy Hallam is no longer involved.
"I was personally very concerned about him, but I am friends with Mr Francis and I urged him to cut his ties," he said.
An antiques dealer, Cllr Smith is backing the campaign as a personal interest and is clear that his support is not in his role as the Mayor of Eastleigh.
Today
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