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Brit billionaire 'bankrupted by drug cartel' forced to sell six-bed mansion and supercars

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A British billionaire has been forced to sell off his assets after falling into millions of pounds of debt after claiming he was made bankrupt by a drug cartel.

Last year entrepreneur Bob Bull was estimated to be worth nearly £2 billion after being named number 88 on the UK rich list. At the time he spoke about how he made his money turning static caravans into bungalow villages as part of his Royal Life business.

The father-of-two built up his wealth after going bankrupt in 2016 - a time when he says he was "too poor to afford a KFC". He spent his fortune on a lavish home near Southampton, Hampshire, and several supercars which have now been repossessed as the billionaire is reportedly £725 million in debt.

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Mr Bull, originally from , alleges this has all come down to a "campaign of hate" by the notorious drugs gang Kinahan Cartel which has links to South American cartels. He told : "These people have taken me to the limits of my life and my wife says "I’m there for you"... If the judge who heard the bankruptcy knew I was the victim of criminality I think the bankruptcy would have been thrown out."

The father tried to refinance his business, thought to be around £4billion, but the package - the biggest real estate deal in Europe - collapsed after the lender pulled out at the last minute. Mr Bull said this led to him borrowing £3 million out of desperation from a millionaire who was a member of an organised crime group with rumoured links to The Kinahan Organised Crime Group, .

That money which was borrowed was to be paid back within four weeks with an interest of £3 million a month, but this ended up spiralling out of control and resulted in the businessman being told to pay back £42 million. Mr Bull said he was frequently reminded of this in the form of intimidation and kidnap threats.

Now, his multi-million-pound property, which includes a bowling alley, has been put on the market for £6 million, with a description of the home on Rightmove saying: "On entering you are aware that this is no ordinary home, the reception hall is vast with a central split flight staircase to the first and second floor."

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On one occasion, Mr Bull's wife was knocked unconscious before the keys to her £450,000 Rolls-Royce was stolen. Yard were told and detectives complied evidence on the ordeal which was later handed to Hampshire Police. They concluded that he had been a "victim of a conspiracy to defraud him, to destroy his £4 billion caravan, bungalow and holiday parks business".

The documents go on to say: "This group is feared because of its use of extreme violence, including murder, against rivals. In Mr Bull’s case they lost no time in using the menace of violence by the Irish cartel as a means of reinforcing unwarranted demands, as well as issuing their own threats of violence and kidnapping…"

In December, court papers showed how Mr Bull hoped to enter an arrangement to pay off his debts at just 0.25 per cent. Mr Bull's lawyer Ben Channer added: "It is not a great return to the creditors, but it is a return."

Mr Bull's property on Botley Road, Curdridge, Hampshire has been listed as having six bedrooms with an en-suite and eight bathrooms. The Georgian style property sits on 9.12 acres of gated grounds and includes a garage for six cars. It includes a pool with steam room and spa, gym, games room and a cinema room with seating for eight, among other things.

A description of the house property added: "The property has been thoughtfully designed and offers a luxury and versatile home, suited for entertaining on a grand scale and family living alike. On entering you are aware that this is no ordinary home, the reception hall is vast with a central split flight staircase to the first and second floor. The reception areas are all situated to the rear of the property overlooking the extensive gardens.

"There are three reception rooms in this area along with a fabulous open plan family/kitchen/breakfast room, this area alone extends to some 3,510 sqft in total with a wine wall, Clive Christian kitchen with an oversized island unit with breakfast bar and an extensive range of Miele appliances."

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