Tourists who booked a 'Bible Lands' cruise were defrauded by a travel agent who specialised in Christian holidays, a court heard.

Bob Fleming, 62, of Living Sun Holidays, New Malden, organised a 10-day Mediterranean cruise starting in Turkey and visiting Rhodes, Lebanon and the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.

The court was told that Fleming failed to use thousands of pounds in booking fees to pay for berths on a cruise ship and tried to persuade his clients to stay in an hotel he had leased in Turkey instead, the Standard reported. Fifteen customers had paid £26,000 in total. 

The court was told he used the money to renovate the hotel.

Fleming denies fraudulent trading and also denies engaging in misleading commercial practice and failing to provide evidence of a security.

Prosecutor Richard Hallam told Kingston crown court: "Mr Fleming was a travel agent and tour operator, who for 30 years arranged holidays in the UK and abroad. His specialism was Christian holidays."

He said the customers thought they were securing a berth on a cruise ship. "He should have paid for the cruise with that £26,000, but he didn't. It was channelled to his other business, a hotel he had leased in Turkey and he asked his customers to stay in that hotel. He used the money to renovate that hotel. It is dishonest."

He also claimed flights were Atol-covered when they were not, the court heard.

When challenged by trading standards officers, Fleming confessed he had "screwed up". He did eventually refund the money to his customers.  

Fleming said: "There are no debts, no one's owed any money. I don't believe I am guilty of an offence."

The case continues.