Lauren Goodger buried her head in her hands as she stopped mid-walk to answer a tense phone call in London on Tuesday, amid her dodgy investments court case.
The TOWIE star, 37, appeared in court last week after she was charged with being paid to promote risky investments on Instagram.
Nine influencers have also been charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in relation to an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme promoted on social media.
Mother-of-one Lauren, who shares two-year-old daughter Larose, with ex Charles Drury, pleaded not guilty to one count of of unauthorised communications of financial promotions, as she appeared via video link in court.
And as the trial hearing looms, Lauren appeared troubled as she crouched down at one point during her walk to take a phone call.
Lauren Goodger, 37, buried her head in her hands as she stopped mid-walk to answer a tense phone call in London on Tuesday, amid her dodgy investments court case
The TOWIE star appeared in court last week after she was charged with being paid to promote risky investments on Instagram
The FCA has alleged that Emmanuel Nwanze, 30, and Holly Thompson, 34, used an Instagram account, @holly-fx trends, to provide advice on buying and selling contracts for difference (CFDs) when they were not authorised to do so.
It said CFDs were high-risk investments, with 80% of customers who invest in them losing money.
The watchdog also alleges that Emmanuel paid Lauren and Yazmin Oukhellou, 30, Love Island’s Biggs Chris, 32, Jamie Clayton, 32, Rebecca Gormley, 26, and Eva Zapico, 25, and Geordie Shore’s Scott Timlin to promote the account to their 4.5 million Instagram followers.
Their combined Instagram followers totalled 4.5 million and they could face up to two years in prison each is convicted.
A trial preparation hearing has been set for July 11 at Southwark Crown Court and nine defendants have been granted unconditional bail until this date.
Emmanuel, Holly, Biggs, Jamie, Lauren, Rebecca, Yazmin, Scott and Eva each face one count of issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions.
Emmanuel also faces one count of breaching a general prohibition under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, which prohibits people from carrying out regulated activities in the UK unless they are authorised to do so.
Scott appeared in person at Westminster Magistrates’ Court alongside Yazmin, Emmanuel and Eva.
Nine influencers have also been charged by the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ) in relation to an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme promoted on social media
Mother-of-one Lauren, who shares two-year-old daughter Larose, with ex Charles Drury , pleaded not guilty to one count of of unauthorised communications of financial promotions, as she appeared via video link in court
And as the trial hearing looms, Lauren appeared troubled as she crouched down at one point during her walk to take a phone call
A trial preparation hearing has been set for July 11 at Southwark Crown Court and nine defendants have been granted unconditional bail until this date
Lauren looked shocked and confused after her game of paddle as she stopped in the middle of a row to take the phone call
After the call, Lauren walked off with her head held high
The watchdog also alleges that Emmanuel paid Lauren and Yazmin Oukhellou (left), 30, Love Island’s Biggs Chris, 32, Jamie Clayton, 32, Rebecca Gormley, 26, and Eva Zapico, 25, and Geordie Shore’s Scott Timlin to promote the account to their 4.5 million Instagram followers
Their combined Instagram followers totalled 4.5 million and they could face up to two years in prison each is convicted (Eva Zapico pictured)
Also facing charges from the Financial Conduct Authority are Biggs Chris and Rebecca Gormley (seen together here at the BEDSA Awards at the Hilton on Park Lane in March 2020)
Scott pleaded not guilty to one count of unauthorised communications of financial promotions. Emmanuel also pleaded not guilty to the same charge, as well as one count of breaching the General Prohibition.
The remaining defendants provided no indication of their pleas.
Lauren rose to fame in 2010 when she appeared on ITV’s Reality TV show The Only Way is Essex until 2012, making brief returns to the series in 2015 and 2016.
The TV star, originally from Hackney, London, took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014 and Dancing on Ice in 2013, but was eliminated in week two.