Shelley Simpson, 46, from Portsmouth, who ran Sphere Events Limited between 2019 and 2022, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday 6 May where she was jailed for two years and eight months for one count of fraudulent trading.

Portsmouth Trading Standards and Hampshire Police initially received more than 90 complaints from consumers who had paid for holidays or events with Sphere but either never received their bookings, were provided with fake documentation, or were left paying for replacement flights and hotels.