£5 million Avocet "virtual gravy train" for lawyers

 by LESTER CROSS

A £5 million 'war chest' which will fund at least nine separate law suits to be brought by Avocet Natural Capital PLC (ANC), including one aimed at the Crown Office and another at Police Scotland, has been dismissed by a named party as a virtual gravy train for lawyers.

The latest promise of legal action has been made by Avocet chairman Martin Frost in a newsletter sent to his company's 650 shareholders. The money to pay for the flurry of legal activity will come from the sale of intellectual property to mystery buyers, according to Mr Frost.

A number of those named in the shareholder letter are the same individuals identified by Mr Frost in several similar communication to investors last year. Those threatened with criminal and civil actions include former employees of the Avocet 'disruptive technology' businesses. But so far it appears writs have not been issued despite serious allegations levelled at the group by ANC management.

In his latest correspondence with ANC investors Mr Frost writes: "ANC Plc’s lawyers have advised that the sum of £5 million pounds is set aside from the IP sale to fund the proposed private criminal and civil actions to be brought against Mrs. Aileen Orr, Mr. Duncan Orr, senior, Miss Sarah Shotton, Ms. Mary Black, Mr. Neal Thompson, Mr. Sandy Jeffrey, Mr. Tristan Jeffrey, Police Scotland, and Scotland’s Crown Office."

Mr Frost has previously warned that legal action would also be taken against the administrators of one of his insolvent companies, Orrdone Farms Ltd., alleging they acted illegally in seizing and then marketing Harcarse Hill farm, a property in Berwickshire previously occupied by Avocet. 

This week's newsletter reveals: "Last week witnessed the release of some Frost personal belongings from Harcarse – such had been badly packed... in 26 boxes. These items were examined at Begbies (liquidators of another Avocet subsidiary, Omega Infinite) warehouse by Mrs. Janet Orr Frost and an army officer. 

"Not only had the returned items suffered rodent damage but many personal items are stolen. The loss of some private papers is being investigated and the boxes and contents are to be fingerprinted and DNA tested. 

"Legal authority is granted for active monitoring of perceived conspiring persons of interest (including those of the Avocet Forum), such monitoring may then be used in either public or private criminal prosecution."

In other developments shareholders are told: "From ANC Plc, payments are being made during May and June in settlement of Omega, Avocet Bio Solutions, and bona fide Orrdone Farms Limited debts. In August 2021, ANC Plc shall convene a web-based video annual general meeting."

Earlier this year Avocet Natural Capital was threatened with being compulsorily struck off the Register of Companies after failing to submit annual accounts on time. But Mr Frost notes that proposed action has been discontinued with ANC now planning to lodge accounts by May 14th. Those 2019 accounts should have been filed by December 28th 2020.

One of those people named by Mr Frost as a possible defendant in an ANC action commented: "The £5 million pot may look like a gravy train for members of the legal profession. But it will be a virtual gravy train as none of Mr Frost's threats are likely to be implemented.

"One wonders how the shareholders feel when they are told millions of pounds of their money may be used to pay off fat cat lawyers when they've yet to see a single penny in return for their multi-million pound investment in a business which has produced nothing tangible over a six year period".