Investors lost millions after Ecuador gold mine turned out to be a money pit

More than 300 investors lost £5.4m after they were promised huge returns by ploughing their savings into a South American gold mine, a court heard. Corrupt stockbroker Stephen Todd, 41, masterminded the swindle through IPR Capital Ltd, offering shares in the mining company in Ecuador. Todd was disqualified from being a company director for 10 years in 2017 for unfit conduct while running a series of disreputable firms in the City, including White Square Investments and Hamilton Bentley. He faces…