When Maree Vermont’s Airbnb went up in flames and her body was burnt beyond recognition, her house guest had an unexpected question for police. 

Just hours earlier, Ms Vermont’s home had been gutted by a fire, which Englishman Timothy Loosemore had escaped by being ‘out for a walk to gather firewood’. 

The 62-year-old, from Somerset in the UK, had been staying with Ms Vermont, 60, in one of her spare rooms as her Airbnb guest at her Goldie home, 70km north of Melbourne.

It had been Ms Vermont’s pride and joy. A surveyor by trade, she had meticulously built it with her ex-husband over three decades. 

Loosemore was not just her Airbnb guest though. He had previously been in what the court heard was a ‘casual relationship’ with his host – but wanted it to be more. 

After the blaze, he was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital, and as he was being treated by medical staff, police arrived to quiz him about the tragedy.

But Loosemore had some questions of his own, and his first was not about the fate of Ms Vermont – but her dog Maxie. 

‘Who’s looking after Maxie?’ Loosemore asked, as captured in footage from the officer’s body-worn camera, and played back in court.

Englishman Timothy Loosemore, 62, from Somerset in the UK, had been staying with Ms Vermont in one of her spare rooms as her Airbnb guest

‘I don’t know,’ the officer replied. ‘Who normally looks after him?’ 

‘Normally Maree,’ Loosemore said. ‘He’s 14 years old so he’s got some dental problems so he’s not a well dog … I suppose Maree’s looking after him?’

It was only then that Loosemore asked: ‘Is Maree all right? Is she?’ 

The court heard Loosemore even expressed more concern for his bicycle than the woman he had killed and may even have burnt alive. 

Pictures from the crime scene reveal a sinister kitchen knife blackened with soot among the charred remains inside the cottage where Ms Vermont died.

Forensics later found DNA traces on Ms Vermont’s blood on Loosemore’s clothes. Everything inside, including Ms Vermont’s body, was burnt beyond recognition. 

Nearby lay fuel canisters he was suspected of using to trigger the fatal blaze. 

Her ornate iron spiral staircase could also be seen lying on the ground, twisted out of shape by the intense heat of the inferno.

Maree Vermont’s Goldie home, 70km north of Melbourne , had been her pride and joy and meticulously built by her with her ex-husband over three decades

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Pictures from the crime scene reveal a sinister kitchen knife blackened with soot among the charred remains inside the cottage where Ms Vermont died 

Nearby lay fuel canisters he was suspected to have used to trigger the fatal blaze 

During a pre-sentence hearing on Thursday, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Andrew Tinney said Loosemore showed little concern in the hours after Ms Vermont’s death. 

‘His only concern was for himself and his bicycle and his other possessions,’ he said. ‘That struck me as being somewhat unnerving.

‘Here he was, a person who claimed to be innocent, who had been involved in a relationship of sorts with Ms Vermont, and he knew that the house was on fire and that she was inside the house.’ 

The impact of that fire on Ms Vermont’s body made it impossible for forensic experts to determine her cause of death.

As a result, two Supreme Court of Victoria juries were unable to conclude she had been murdered.

Instead, Loosemore will be sentenced on Friday for Ms Vermont’s manslaughter. 

Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, told the jury Loosemore ‘snapped’ when his pleas for an intimate relationship were repeatedly rejected by Ms Vermont, after an earlier ‘brief sexual dalliance’. 

Mr Gibson said Loosemore violently assaulted Ms Vermont before he covered up the crime by starting the fire.

Her ornate iron spiral staircase could also be seen lying on the ground, twisted out of shape by the intense heat of the inferno 

‘He did something horrific to Maree Vermont,’ he told the court. ‘Something he needed to conceal from the world.

‘That something was him physically attacking Maree inside that house during which he killed Maree Vermont. An attack with murderous intent.’

Ms Vermont’s blood was later found all over Loosemore’s pants and T-shirt, and the jury heard Ms Vermont had fought desperately for her life.

Her body was found face down in the living room, where three kitchen knives were also discovered.

She never left the house despite five easily accessible exits – and even the dog Maxie escaped.

The jury heard the severity of the inferno was consistent with flammable liquid having been spread, with petrol components detected on a mat and blanket in the house.

Moderately evaporated petrol was also found on Loosemore’s clothing and shoes.

‘It’s a very interesting situation. There were those knives there and there is the fact that she bled profusely,’ Justice Tinney noted. 

‘Obviously when she’s close to him because it got on his clothing. 

‘Because he has never told the truth about what occurred, the mechanism of the actual death will remain unclear to everyone other than Mr Loosemore.’

Timothy Loosemore, 62, appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria for a pre-sentence hearing on Thursday. He was spotted carrying a bible

Maree Vermont had rejected Loosemore’s repeated advances 

The DNA blood evidence was not shown to the first jury – which deliberated its verdict for three weeks before they were discharged – because of a ‘workload issue’ at Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The second jury heard Loosemore’s lucid recollections of what happened that night in the hours immediately after the fire.

But the court also heard he later suffered near-total amnesia when questioned by Homicide Squad detectives and forensic doctors. 

In the aftermath of the fire, Loosemore gave several accounts of events in conversations with neighbours, paramedics, police and a doctor. 

He told them he had briefly left the house and returned to find it ablaze.

He told neighbour Peter Greenham he had a ‘small argument’ with Ms Vermont, that he went outside to get some wood, and when he came back the fire was too hot to handle. 

Another neighbour, Kynan Share, was given a similar story before Loosemore added: ‘When I’ve come back, the whole place went up.’

But he claimed to another neighbour he had been upstairs asleep, got up to put wood on the fire, and found the house fully alight on his return.

Defence barrister Christopher Farrington told the court Loosemore had been consistent that he had ‘no memory of what took place’, which is why he took no responsibility or showed remorse.

‘Isn’t it all much more consistent with a person who has simply been refusing to tell the truth about what occurred?’ the judge asked Mr Farrington.

Crime scene photos show the devastation left by the fire on Ms Vermont’s cherished home 

Mr Farrington told the court Loosemore was born in Somerset in the United Kingdom and raised in a small rural farming community.

He worked in road construction before establishing his own civil construction business, which operated for about 11 years and at times involved more than 40 workers on roads and bridges. 

Changes in UK employment law led to the business being wound up and he later worked as a sole operator.

The court heard Loosemore had been married twice, with three children from his second marriage, who now live in the UK.

The family lived in Western Australia around 2004-2007 and became Australian citizens before later returning to the UK. 

Loosemore had not been in full-time employment since about 2004, living off investments from the sale of his successful business.

In September 2022, he returned to Australia with his son for a cycling trip around the country. 

After his son left, Loosemore continued alone, staying at farmstay properties where he performed work in exchange for board and food, and Ms Vermont’s property was one of those.

The court heard he had no prior criminal history and people who knew him before the incident, including some of Ms Vermont’s friends and family, described him as polite, calm and helpful. 

On Thursday, Ms Vermont’s loved ones packed the court to confront Loosemore and express the impact his actions had on their lives. 

Outside court, her three sons described their mother as a very peaceful, loving and caring person.

‘It’s a very hard day,’ Darcy Vermont told reporters.

‘But it’s bringing some sense of closure to be able to get up in court and have our voices heard.’

New Zealand captain Ardie Savea has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa with a shoulder injury.

Savea was forced off just half-an-hour in to the third Test in Johannesburg after coming up in serious pain following a clearout from Jasper Wiese.

The No 8 struggled to hold his right arm up and was pictured in a sling after a 29-24 defeat.

Savea had scored twice in an excellent start to the game, and his absence is a major blow to Dave Rennie as the All Blacks seek to draw the series with victory in Baltimore next Saturday.

“Yes, [it’s a] shoulder injury,” Rennie confirmed. “Not sure if it’s dislocated, but he certainly won’t be travelling to the States.

“Oh, yeah, I think he [Savea] was massive, wasn’t he? But you know, Wallace Sititi came on and played well.”

Outside centre Quinn Tupaea is also a doubt for that game with a knee injury. Rennie suggested that the Chiefs midfielder could have MCL damage, though will require further investigation.

The two sides conclude their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry itinerary with the fourth Test at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, on Saturday evening.

The Community Reablement and Support Team West, based in Western Road, Kilmarnock, was graded ‘very good’.

An Ayrshire-based housing support and care at home service has been praised following an unannounced spot check by the Care Inspectorate.

The Community Reablement and Support Team West, based in Western Road, Kilmarnock, was graded ‘very good’ across the quality indicator relating to supporting people’s wellbeing.

It follows an unannounced visit to the service in August with the findings now published.

Among the key messages the Care Inspectorate said the care and support from CREST had made a “positive difference” to peoples health and well-being.

And people told inspectors that they were “very happy” with the support they received.

In addition, staff cared for people with “kindness and compassion.”

The positives continued; staff also told inspectors that they enjoyed their role and felt “well supported” by managers.

And leaders knew the strengths and areas for development of the service well and used “effective quality assurance” to drive good practice.

Community Reablement and Support Team (CREST) West is registered to provide a combined housing support and care at home service to adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions and other additional needs in East Ayrshire. The service is provided by East Ayrshire Council.

An extract from the Care Inspectorate report said: “We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these supported positive outcomes for people.

“People experienced care and support that promoted their health and wellbeing because staff demonstrated a clear understanding of their role in identifying and responding to changes in health needs.”

The report continues: “During the inspection, staff and managers showed how they recognised changes promptly and shared information with the appropriate professionals. This ensured people received timely support, which reduced the risk of deterioration and supported more stable health outcomes. As a result, people benefited from coordinated and responsive care that positively impacted both their physical and emotional wellbeing.”

Medication systems were found to be “safe and well-managed” overall, with “clear documentation, regular audits, and competent staff practice,” according to the report. And staff were “confident in their roles,” and people reported feeling “assured” that their medication was managed safely.

The report goes on: “This contributed to people experiencing consistent and safe treatment, reducing the likelihood of errors and supporting positive health outcomes. This demonstrated that safeguards were effective and risks were well alleviated.”

The report adds: “Overall, the service demonstrated significant strengths in supporting people’s health and wellbeing. The skilled and passionate teams of staff and managers provided consistently positive outcomes, where peoples choices, wishes and preferences were met.”

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood watched his pass sail out of bounds, and he thought he knew what that meant for No. 16 Michigan.

“I definitely thought the game was over because there were zeroes on the clock,” he said.

So did Western Michigan. So did a lot of people watching.

Given a second chance by a disputed replay decision, Underwood and the Wolverines took advantage. JJ Buchanan pulled in Underwood’s 47-yard, second-chance miracle heave for a game-ending, game-winning touchdown, and Michigan escaped with a 13-12 win over the Broncos on Saturday night in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut.

On what seemed to be the final play of the game, Underwood chucked a Hail Mary pass that sailed beyond the end zone and into the arms of a Broncos defender. TV replays appeared to show the clock hitting zero with the ball still in the air, but officials ruled there was a second still to play.

The Big Ten stood by the review in a statement released two hours after the game, when it also published a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by the officials that showed the game clock at 1 second when the ball was touched by WMU’s Micah Davis.

“It was determined Western Michigan No. 18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock,” the conference said, citing rule that stops the clock on such contact.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said the conference and school contacted the Big Ten office, seeking clarification on the review and was provided with an explanation along with video and audio that confirmed it. Steinbrecher thanked the Big Ten for its prompt response.

The call gave Michigan new life.

Indeed, Michigan fans were already having flashbacks to a season-opening loss to Appalachian State in 2007, when the Wolverines faltered as 33-point favorites. They were projected to win by 27 1/2 points over the Broncos but had to experience momentarily watching WMU celebrate the victory at Michigan Stadium before the replay decision made the winning score possible.

Michigan fans stormed the field after the win, but the team was hardly in the mood for a party.

“Sick to my stomach is the way I explain my feelings about that game,” defensive end Dom Nichols said.

Whittingham said he thought there was a second left on the clock, while Broncos coach Lance Taylor said he hadn’t seen a replay before speaking to reporters.

Underwood took advantage of another chance to win the game, and redeem himself from a poor performance, with Buchanan leaping to snag the football and coming down with it in the end zone.

“We practiced it three or four times over the last month,” said Underwood, who added it was “a blessing” to have another second put back on the clock.

Whittingham was hired to stabilize a program reeling after the firing and arrest of Sherrone Moore, who held the job for just two seasons following Jim Harbaugh’s tenure that included a 2023 national title along with a spying scandal and NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations.

There hasn’t been much drama off the field, but this was hardly an encouraging start on it.

“That was a moment we don’t really want to be living,” Nichols said.

Michigan will have to improve quickly to compete next week with No. 10 Oklahoma at home.

“If we don’t play a lot better, it’s not going to be pretty,” Whittingham said.

___

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Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has made his intentions for the season clear despite a minor change from his last spell at Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford has boldly stated “new number, same mission” in a social media message after becoming Manchester United’s new No.9. The England international previously wore the No.10 on his back, but that has been occupied by Matheus Cunha, who arrived during Rashford’s loan spell away from the club.

Both attackers were named in Michael Carrick’s starting XI last weekend against Ipswich Town, the first time in over 18 months that Rashford was deployed from the off for United. He is yet to grab a direct goal contribution since returning, but has impressed Carrick.

Speaking after last Sunday’s win, he said: “I think the situation that we’re in, I think the business that we’ve managed to do, I’m pleased with. I think we’re a better group, a better squad, potentially a better team. Adding Marcus (Rashford) into that feels like a new signing. So, in that respect, we’re quite happy.”

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Goals and assists have followed Rashford wherever he has gone and that is unlikely to change this season with the 28-year-old focused on exactly that and more trophies despite his small change.

Writing on Instagram, alongside a number of images, Rashford said: “New number, same mission.” United captain Bruno Fernandes is among the United players to have liked the post.

The 31-year-old inspired his side to their first win of the season by scoring a hat-trick, with Bryan Mbeumo and a Jacob Greaves own goal seeing United hit five.

Rashford was on the pitch for 80 minutes but failed to get in on the action and he will want to change that swiftly given the competition for places in attack. Amad’s injury and Benjamin Sesko still getting back to full fitness helps Rashford’s gametime in the short-term, however.

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Patrick Dorgu replaced him late on at Old Trafford against Ipswich, but Rashford is expected to retain his place in the team for Sunday’s trip to Everton.

David Moyes is an attacker down for the game with Iliman Ndiaye leaving on the final day of the window to join Manchester City. The Toffees also failed to sign Folarin Balogun and United outcast Joshua Zirkzee on deadline day.

United meanwhile, looked set for a quiet final 12 hours of trading only for a last-ditch pursuit of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Man City to take place. However, Carrick’s side failed to get a deal over the line and subsequently failed to sign a new left-back as competition for Luke Shaw.

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The fast-food giant shared a video on Facebook on September 3, telling customers: “A new store is opening in Faverdale, Darlington. Opening date coming soon.”

The post has sparked fresh excitement over the new restaurant on Faverdale Industrial Estate, which has been under construction since March 2025.

However, an official opening date has not yet been confirmed and said a date will be announced soon.

The site was originally expected to open in December 2025, but that deadline was missed as work continued.

An opening in early 2026 was then suggested before McDonald’s later said the restaurant was expected to open in late summer 2026.

A McDonald’s spokesperson previously said: “We’re looking forward to opening our new restaurant in Darlington, due to open in late summer 2026.

“The restaurant will bring significant investment to the local area and deliver up to 120 full and part-time jobs.”

The Faverdale restaurant is expected to become McDonald’s third branch in Darlington.

The wider development has been in the pipeline for several years. Plans were initially deferred by Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee in July 2023 amid concerns over the potential impact on existing businesses and jobs, before being approved the following month.

Earlier plans for the site included McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell, as well as additional retail units and an industrial unit.

Costa Coffee is still due to open a drive through branch at Faverdale. Taco Bell, however, is no longer expected to be part of the scheme after developers Metcalf Harland Property Investment said the chain did not sign a lease.

A new Taco Bell site has recently opened on 3 Albert Road, at the former KFC site on North Road.

McDonald’s has now told customers to watch out for an opening date announcement.

President Donald Trump showcased a darker hairstyle as he stepped off Air Force One ahead of spending Labor Day weekend at one of his golf courses.

The commander-in-chief’s iconic golden comb-over appeared to be duskier hue as he touched down in Morristown, New Jersey, on Friday before continuing on to Bedminster.

The new look comes weeks after Trump, 80, sent social media into a frenzy with his voluminous, blonde locks while speaking at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.

On Friday, he appeared to have switched things up again and his hair appeared almost brown.

His biographer Michael Wolff has since revealed that the president has a trick up his sleeve to ensure his hair is always perfectly coiffed.

Wolff claimed on the Inside Trump’s Head podcast that the president never travels without his trusty hair kit, which is stocked with different shades of hair patches.

‘He has somebody who’s following, and there have been a couple of people over, certainly over the political years, who’ve carried the patch kit,’ Wolff said.

The biographer added that the president handles much of the styling himself, a topic Trump has previously addressed.

The president sported a dusky, almost brown hairstyle instead of his usual blonder locks prompting a lot of reaction online

In 2018, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, he said: ‘I try like hell to hide my bald spot, folks. I work hard at it.’ 

That same year, Trump’s physician revealed he takes medication to combat male-pattern baldness, USA Today reported.

According to Wolff, the portable hair kit dates back at least to Trump’s first term, when his eldest daughter, Ivanka, served as a close aide.

The biographer described how Ivanka once discussed the amount of time spent on her father’s hair, he said: ‘In my first book, Fire and Fury, I describe Ivanka, who had a kind of amused perspective on her father.’

‘She described the way that his hair came together, having to tease it in certain ways, pull it in certain ways and fluff it in certain ways. And so you kind of created this confection on top.’

The president’s current hairstyle drew a lot of commentary on X.

One user wrote: ‘Looks like he borrowed it from a ’70s game show host.’

Another added: ‘There probably wasn’t enough time to dye and style his mop. This has to be the new rug.’

Trump appeared at the Red Rock Casino on August 5 to boast his administration’s accomplishments, but his speech was overshadowed by comments on his much thicker-looking hair

Trump previously joked that he takes care to cover his bald spots 

Trump’s physician also previously revealed he takes a drug to tackle male-pattern baldness 

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A third said of a service member standing near the president: ‘I really gotta admire that young man in uniform keeping a straight face after seeing that hair!’

Trump is expected to spend the weekend at his golf course in Bedminster, returning to Washington DC on Monday. 

It comes after the president sparked rumors about a hair piece or even a wig following his appearance in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Trump delivered a speech about his administration’s achievements which was quickly overshadowed by comments on his lustrous looking hair.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for comment. 

Its market charter dates back to around 1269, while Roman, medieval and textile heritage can still be found throughout the town.

Today, independent shops, cafés and restaurants sit alongside historic landmarks, making Kirkham an appealing alternative to the bustle of the Fylde coast.

The much loved Kirkham mural (Image: Kirkham Council)

Kirkham has long been prized for its understated, working market-town character, offering a quieter alternative to the seaside attractions of nearby Blackpool.

The town’s heritage runs from Roman origins through centuries as an important centre for sailcloth production and cotton weaving, alongside independent shops, a historic parish church and an unusual open prison occupying part of a former wartime airfield site.

Exploring Kirkham’s shops and restaurants

Visitors can stroll along Poulton Street, the town’s principal shopping thoroughfare, where independent traders such as Serendipity House, a gift, clothing and accessories shop, and the long-established Kirkham Ironmongers sit alongside newer arrivals.

One local trader described Kirkham as a market town with deep-rooted history, stretching back to the Domesday Book, while highlighting the continued importance of the high street to local residents.

For those looking for something sweet, Book, Bean & Ice Cream on Poulton

Street combines an independent bookshop with a coffee shop and ice-cream counter.

The business is also known for its award-winning cakes and brownies, attracting both local customers and visitors.

For those who have worked up an appetite exploring, the town has a solid range of eateries, from cosy bistros to traditional pubs.

According to Tripadvisor, Scott’s Bistro is among the highest-rated restaurants in town, with reviewers praising its British and healthy-focused menu, while Elvin’s Kirkham has also drawn strong reviews from diners.

Book Bean & Ice Cream (Image: Google)

A cotton town with Roman roots

Kirkham’s history stretches back far further than its Victorian textile boom.

The town appears in the Domesday Book as “Chicheham” and developed around the site of a former Roman fort at Carr Hill.

It grew near the route of the Roman road linking Ribchester with the Wyre area.

Its market charter was granted by King Henry III in 1269–70, and the town remained a modest market centre before developing into an important textile-producing centre from the 18th century onwards.

Sailcloth was woven in cottages across Kirkham from the 18th and 19th centuries, before production became increasingly associated with larger mills.

The Kirkham Flax Mill has roots stretching back to the 18th century, with a major mill building constructed in the 19th century.

The town subsequently became an important centre for cotton weaving, with several mills operating in and around Kirkham.

Although the last commercial loom fell silent in 2003, the legacy of families such as the Birleys, Langtons, Hornbys and Shepherds remains woven into the town’s identity.

At the heart of the town stands St Michael’s Church, Kirkham, a Grade II*-listed active Anglican parish church within the Diocese of Blackburn.

A church has stood on the site since at least the seventh century, although the present building dates mainly from the 19th century.

Nearby, Kirkham Prison, a men’s open prison, occupies part of the site of the former RAF Kirkham.

The airfield was used during the Second World War to train British and Allied servicemen and women, with around 72,000 people trained there before the end of the war.

Part of the site was subsequently converted into a prison, which opened in 1962.

At the 2021 Census, the former Kirkham North and Kirkham South wards had a combined population of 7,883, up from 7,194 in 2011, reflecting population growth around the historic town centre and surrounding area.

With a Roman past, a centuries-old market charter, a distinctive sailcloth and cotton-weaving heritage and a range of independent shops and restaurants, Kirkham offers far more than many visitors to the Fylde coast may expect.

He remains in police custody

A man has been arrested after a number of cars were damaged by a vehicle travelling at high speed in Co Tyrone.

Police received a report at around 9.50pm on Friday of a possible drink-driver in the Melmount Road area of Strabane.

It was reported that a black Seat Leon had been travelling at high speed along the A5 in the direction of Omagh. It attempted to overtake another vehicle in front and collided twice with a blue Jeep before driving off.

The Seat, which had sustained significant damage, then stopped on the Melmount Road and the driver made off on foot.

Officers attended the scene and a 29-year-old man was located on the A5 and arrested on suspicion of assault on police, criminal damage and driving when unfit through drink or drugs.

He was further arrested on suspicion of a number of other driving offences, including dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

He remains in police custody. The PSNI has appealed for information.

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A Canadian billionaire heiress and her former reality TV star husband have been accused of scamming their best friend out of $2 million, according to a new lawsuit.

Brendan Fitzpatrick, 38, who starred in Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, and his wife, Chloe de Serigny, 31, the granddaughter of late Canadian financier Paul Desmarais, allegedly conned their wealthy friend out of a loan and then refused to pay him back, the filing states.

Max Jan Fowles-Pazdro, 46, accused Brendan of ‘exploiting their personal friendship’ to get $2 million for a real estate project in the United Kingdom in January 2025, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court and obtained by the Daily Mail.

‘Following repeated and increasingly desperate pleas from [Brendan] – [Fowles-Pazdro’s] then-close friend, [Fowles-Pazdro] dug into his and his wife’s life savings and funded a $2 million bridge loan that Brendan promised to begin repaying within six weeks,’ the filing stated.  

‘Two years have since elapsed – and not a penny of the loan has been repaid. With their nest egg gone, [Fowles-Pazdro] and his wife now teeter on financial ruin.’

Fowles-Pazdro’s lawsuit claims that the Fitzpatricks are ‘beleaguered on all fronts,’ but ‘continue to live – and present themselves to others as living – in the lap of luxury.’

The court document included a recent social media post from the couple on a yacht in the Mediterranean. 

Fowles-Pazdro describes the couple as ‘devoid of any worldly cares while yachting through the Mediterranean.’

Max Jan Fowles-Pazdro, 46, accused Brendan in a lawsuit of ‘exploiting their personal friendship’ to get $2 million for a real estate project in the United Kingdom in January 2025. Fowles-Padro is pictured with wife Parisa

The lawsuit claims that the couple has repeatedly promised to pay Fowles-Pazdro back, and even suggested they would ask Chloe’s mother for help with the repayment.

‘I am going to fix everything this week,’ Brendan allegedly texted Fowles-Pazdro, according to the lawsuit.

In another text, Brendan allegedly wrote: ‘We will absolutely have this resolved tomorrow [sic]; if not, I will be borrowing from my mother-in-law… We get funds by 2, or I will get them from her [sic]. I will say it’s life or death.’

At one point, Chloe allegedly told Fowles-Pazdro: ‘My mom had a serious conversation with Brendan; she said my [sic] March 10 we’re switching boats if nothing happens… and figuring out how to pay everyone back and get the f*** out.’

Chloe’s mother, Sophie Desmarais, is the trustee of her grandfather’s fortune. Paul Desmarais was chairman and chief executive officer of Power Corporation of Canada, a financial services company, until 1996.

The Desmarais family has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion, and at the time of his death in 2013, Paul was Canada’s fourth-richest person.

Brendan and Chloe wed at a lavish ceremony in California’s wine country in 2023 which was featured in People magazine. They share one child, according to social media.

Fowles-Pazdro alleged that the couple had mutual friends while living in California, and they began spending more time together in 2024 while living in Miami.

Fowles-Pazdro alleged in the filing that instead of paying him back, the Fitzpatricks flaunted their lavish yacht trips on social media by posting this photograph

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The lawsuit claims that the couple has repeatedly promised to pay Fowles-Pazdro back, and even suggested they would ask Chloe’s mother for help with the repayment

‘The parties grew close, bonding over their imminent toddlers and other shared commonalities. Brendan referred often to [Fowles-Pazdro] as his best friend, telling him that his family is “also my family,”‘ the court document stated. 

Fowles-Pazdro and his wife spent the summer of 2024 at the Fitzpatricks’ rental in the South of France, and stayed at the Montreal home of Chloe’s mother that September.

The lawsuit stated: ‘During these lavish trips, [the Fitzpatricks] laid the groundwork to defraud and steal from [Fowles-Pazdro] and his family.’

Months later, in January 2025, Brendan allegedly claimed he needed the loan for the real estate project in the UK, and the Fowles-Pazdros paid up. 

The Fowles-Pazdros lawsuit seeks damages, including all attorneys’ fees and the loan plus interest. 

It comes as Brendan is facing a separate lawsuit accusing him of running an $80 million Ponzi scheme through his mining and resource management company, Carbonatik.

Brendan’s attorneys filed an answer largely denying many of the lawsuit’s claims and admitting some basic facts relating to agreements and certain communications.

Chloe’s mother, Sophie Desmarais, is the trustee of her grandfather’s fortune. Paul Desmarais was chairman and chief executive officer of Power Corporation of Canada, a financial services company, until 1996

They also filed a counterclaim accusing the plaintiff of failing to fulfill their obligations. 

The case remains ongoing, and on September 3, Brendan filed a motion requesting to change his legal representation.

The Daily Mail contacted Fitzpatrick and his attorneys, as well as Fowles-Pazdro’s lawyer, for comment.