The man who accused Michelle Mone of racism can be named by MailOnline as Monaco-based financial consultant Richard Lynton-Jones, who say she told her he was ‘a waste of a man’s white skin’ in a WhatsApp message nearly three weeks after a fatal boat crash on the French Riviera.
Conservative Peer Mone posted the following statement on Instagram: “I have again denied that I racially abuse Lynton Jones, who is Indian-American.” This came after she spent an entire day ‘drinking’ and partying aboard two superyachts. One of those parties ended with the tragic death of a deckhand.
The Guardian saw the exchange and found out that Lady Mone also referred to Mr Lynton Jones as his partner in a conversation.
Lynton Jones is thought to be the son of an Indian mother and a white father. Lady Mone’s attorneys today said that it was “illogical” as it is impossible for her to make such comments or have the slightest racist intention. She had no idea that Lynton Jones ‘was any other than white British as his appearance is 100% pure white with a sharp-glass English accent.”
It was also mentioned that Lady Mone believed strongly that he was 100 percent white and British and that Mr Lyton Jones had no trace of non-white coloration or other features.
Lady Moon stated this afternoon on social media that a call out to a male for his actions in the aftermath of a murder and his entitlement white privilege was racism. I believe the contrary. The accusations against me that have been made today are filled with contradictions.
This bust up occurred after 42-year-old Mr Lynton Jones was one of the superyacht guests who met with Lady Mone, her husband and businessman Douglas Barrowman. They were together with their friends and family on Minx, an 88-foot yacht.
MailOnline can reveal that the two groups, totalling 18 people, motored out in their respective boats to enjoy a lunch at a restaurant on an island called Île Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes, leaving their respective crews on board.
Later, they rafted together their boats so that they could have more fun on the water. They hopped on each other’s boats before returning to shore at night when the sun was low after more than 5 hours partying.
As Mr Barrowman was heading for home, the French captain of Vision 2, a superyacht chartered by Richard Skelhorn (British internet gaming billionaire), accidentally drove into his boat. MAIB investigations revealed that the skipper had marijuana in his bloodstream.
British crewman Jake Feldwhere (27 years old) was on Minx’s foredeck preparing to raise the anchor. He was killed and injured in the accident on May 25, 2019. This was the final day of Cannes Film Festival.
Lady Mone addressed Mr Feldwhere’s death in her blog today. She said: “I will make the record right on this defamation, before I decide on any legal actions. But I know what this man did to the boy’s life, who died because of his super yacht party.
“Almost three years ago, my defense of a young boy who lost his life tragically was completed. The manslaughter investigation that they were involved in remains ongoing. I’m willing to help you in whatever way possible.
Michelle Mone, Conservative Peer and a Democrat in Congress took to Instagram to deny that she is racist. She allegedly wrote a derogatory text to an Indian-American man following a day spent ‘drinking’ on superyachts. This led to the death of a deckhand.
According to reports, the 50-year old ex-lingerie tycoon told her husband’s former worker (pictured), Richard Lynton Jones, a financial consultant by MailOnline that he was “a waste of man’s skin” in a WhatsApp conversation nearly three weeks after the tragedy on the French Riviera. The Guardian saw the exchange and found out that she also claimed to have called Mr Lynton Jones’s partner a “nut case bird” and a “mental loony”.
Lynton Jones is thought to be the son of an Indian mother and a white father. Lady Mone’s attorneys today said that it was “illogical” as it is impossible that her lawyer could have made the comment. They also stated that it was not possible for her to know that Lynton Jones had any other race than British. His appearance, however, is white with an English accent.
Lady Moon stated this afternoon on social media that calling out men for their actions in the aftermath of a manslaughter or his entitlement to white privilege was racism. Contrary to what you might think – I’ve read many accusations today that are against me.
Crewman Jake Feldwhere (pictured), 27, was on the foredeck of an 88ft-long Minx preparing to lift the anchor when he was struck and killed off the coast of Île Sainte-Marguerite in 2019
French superyacht Vision’s skipper, who was chartered in Britain by Richard Skelhorn (pictured), was accidentally thrown into Barrowman’s boat while he was heading for home. MAIB investigations revealed that the skipper had marijuana in his bloodstream.
After Lady Mone asked Mr Lynton Jones how his partner was doing after the accident, she said that they had a bust-up.
Mr Lynton Jones who is believed to have a mother of Indian heritage and a white father, and works in Monaco as a financial consultant, replied that his partner had been seriously traumatised by the yacht incident, saying: ‘I would prefer you back the f**k off’.
The Guardian screenshots show Lady Mone saying, “OMG that’s a lot of crap!” I am talking to you, an intelligent, brilliant individual who isn’t taken in by your crap!
“In actuality, my bullshit detector detected you since day one. You & your mental loony of a girlfriend have been parting [sic]You’re crazy! … You need to get a grip and have respect for a guy that was killed!!!
“Funny, your crazy girlfriend deleted all of my photos. I still have the screenshots. 48 hours later, the man was shot and killed. Your [sic]A low-life, it is a loss of mans. [sic]White skin is not a lie, so we won’t believe you. You are the best! [sic] a total disgrace.’
After Mr Lynton Jones, 42, had been among the guests of a superyacht that met Lady Mone with her husband Douglas Barrowman, a businessman, and were on their 88ft yacht Minx, they broke up.
According to reports, she also said: “Now deal with police inquiries including your nuts case bird.”
He replied, “A wast of white men’s skin?” Michelle, I didn’t know that you were racist. 15 minutes later Lady Mone wrote: “Your [sic]Block your case and bring it to the police station.
According to reports, Mr Lynton Jones made a formal complaint to Martin Jelley (House of Lords commissioner to standards) about the messages in August. He claimed they were ‘derogatory, racist’ and ‘abusive, derogatory’ to his mental health.
However, the Commissioner declined to investigate as the messages were not received during Lady Mone’s legislative duties.
Her lawyers this week since issued a statement, saying she no longer had access to the relevant messages and had no ‘detailed memory of them.’
The UK’s Marine Accidents Investigation Branch published a report on the accident in January. It revealed that the superyacht passengers had been enjoying a day before the disaster.
The report said that the Vision had left Monaco at noon and ‘proceeded to Île Sainte-Marguerite near Cannes, France, anchoring there about an hour later’.
Douglas Barrowman is the husband of a lawyer for the House of Lords. They are pictured together.
After the tragic crash off Monaco, the Minx superyacht was damaged to its 88ft length.
Michelle Mone was pictured as Michelle celebrated her 50th Birthday last month
After anchoring Vision’s guests were brought ashore for drinks, and then a meal. The motor yacht Minx left Antibes’ marina berth and proceeded to Villefranche-sur-Mer, where its owner, along with eight of his family members, was waiting by tender.
The ‘Baroness Bra’ that made her so rich
Michelle Mone, lingerie mogul and model turned tycoon Michelle Mone was conceived in 1971. She grew up in Glasgow’s East End.
After managing a sales team at Labatt’s brewery, she came up with the idea of creating a variety of support bras.
Lady Mone, her husband Michael Mone, founded MJM International in November 1996. After three years of development, research and design, the patent-pending Ultimo bra was created.
Ultimo, her third child, was born in August 1999. She launched it at Selfridges, London’s department store. The prelaunch estimate for six weeks stock sold out within 24 hours.
Her business expanded rapidly, and she was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2010 for her contributions to business.
However, she did sell 80 percent of Ultimo’s stock in 2014 one year after she announced her resignation from the company due to a marital breakdown.
After being promoted to the House of Lords, Lady Mone received the nickname “Baroness Bra” and her official title was Baroness Mone of Mayfair.
To celebrate her 50th birthday last month, she decided to host five parties – one for each decade of her life – with her new husband billionaire tech tycoon Doug Barrowman, 55.
They were married in November at their Isle of Man home.
Lady Mone also enjoyed a successful career in public speaking, but she called it quits last month because she needed to focus on her family’s needs and the new ventures.
‘Minx then headed to join Vision at Île Sainte-Marguerite, arriving about 1430. All the guests on both yachts had arrived at the restaurant by 1500. Both crews continued to board the yachts.
“During the meal the guests decided to go back to the boat and continue the celebration. Vision’s charterer phoned the skipper to ask him to join Minx on the rafting trip. Vision’s skipper reached out to Minx’s skipper, discussed the plan and then released more anchor chains and maneuvered Minx’s yacht.
“By 1830 everyone had returned to board. The drinking and partying went on with the majority of Vision’s guests. Vision’s skipper was encouraged by his guests to do a brave swallow-dive from the flybridge into the water during the party.
‘Around 2030 Vision’s crew started to prepare for a return to Monaco. So the guests
We were all asked by the captain to get back on our yachts. There was good visibility, clear air and calm water.
Reports stated that Vision had left Monaco to head back to Monaco by daylight. Later, it became clear that Minx’s guest had left a cell phone at Vision. The vessel returned to Minx so it could be recovered.
After the phone was returned, it was reported that the French skipper of Vision drove 750m before turning around and acceleration as he tried to perform a speedy slalom type maneuver close to the port side of the Minx.
As the boat grew in speed, it began to plan. It was quickly approaching Minx and the twin propellers from its engines created a “rooster tail” water spray.
However, the speed of the boat meant that the French skipper at 42 tried to steer the vessel to port. The Vision then collided with Minx’s bow. This hit Mr Feldware, who was only his second day on the sea. It is believed that he died immediately from severe head injuries.
The impact threw most of the Minx’s crew and guests to the deck, and many suffered minor injuries.
French rescue services and maritime police were quick to respond to the accident scene. Police escorted both yachts to Cannes marina berths later that evening.
Lynton-Jones was said to once have worked in one of Mr Barrowman’s businesses. Mr Skelhorn, who was then living in Monaco, also knew him.
A Lady Mone representative said to the Guardian, this week: ‘Baroness Mone 100% is not a racist. Over 15 African schools have been built by Baroness Mone’s husband in just three years.
The lawyers of Lady Mone later gave another statement, in which they stated that she had “no access” to the messages but no ‘detailed memories’.
According to the statement, “She’s not willing to comment on these messages until they are authenticated but Baroness Mone strongly denied that she was a racist or a sexist and that she lacks respect for people who have real mental illness.”
The complainant was described as ‘as absurd as it is possible that she would or could have made such comments or made them with the slightest racism intent. She had no idea at that time that he was anything but white British as his appearance is 100% White with an English accent.
The lawyers of her client also raised questions about the motivations of the complainant. They suggested that the messages were written in a manic manner, consistent with someone who has coherency problems, and not from an articulate and well-educated Baroness.
Separately, the two women stated in separate correspondence that they believed that the complainant did not have any evidence of non-white coloration or features that could suggest that he wasn’t ‘100% British and white’.
Lady Mone was the one who started her Ultimo bra empire together with her ex-husband. David Cameron appointed her to the House of Lords in 2015 after her sale of an 80% interest in her company.
Her leadership role was later taken over by a review of the government’s entrepreneurship policy.
Michelle Mone (left) and Douglas Barrowman (right) own Minx, which is the result of a crash.
According to the MAIB report, the accident occurred because Vision’s skipper underestimated the dangers associated with close passes.
“Blood samples taken the day following the accident showed that Vision’s skipper had been under the influence cannabis. This was most likely to have affected his judgment.”
Although the skipper had a Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Certificate to operate powered boats and was certified by them, he hadn’t taken a course in Professional Practices & Responsibility as required under Small Commercial Vessel Rules.
According to the report, Vision’s skipper tried an unsafe, high-speed pass close by Minx, but lost control of his vehicle immediately.
Minx’s crewman, who was on the foredeck of the ship and couldn’t do anything to prevent being hit by the impact force, was instantly killed.
“Motor yacht skippers, as professional seafarers, have a responsibility to their guests, vessel crew, and all other water users.
“In the motor yacht business, charterers and owners are vacationing; they want to party, relax and be pampered, but also to enjoy the freedom of sailing at their leisure.
“In such an environment, skippers and crew of motor yachts must maintain control over the yacht and not get too involved in the party atmosphere.
According to the report, “Cannabis can be a depressant of central nervous system that may significantly affect execution of certain tasks.”
Before the crash, Minx and Vision were pictured together at Cannes.
The effects of cannabis consumption can look similar to that of alcohol.
From Midhurst in West Sussex, Mr Feldware had just finished a boat training course and arrived only four weeks prior to the tragedy.
After arriving in Monaco Port, he posted a smiley selfie to social media and wrote: “Only gone. Made it to Monaco. Let the adventure begin.
Hours before his death, he posted more pictures on Instagram of the Cannes shoreline from Île Sainte-Marguerite, a notorious spot for yacht parties, with the caption: ‘Not a bad day to be out on the sea. #Cannes #LoveIt.’
Lady Mone was the one who sold Ultimo lingerie in 2014. She was inducted as a Life Peer by David Cameron, then Prime Minister, in 2015 in House of Lords.