A MIGRANT hotel baron nicknamed “Goldfinger” who owns two of Britain’s most iconic seaside piers has been cleared of a knife charge.
Sheikh Abid Gulzar, 81, known as Mr Goldfinger, was arrested last year after being found in possession of an eight-inch fishing knife.
A hotel baron nicknamed Goldfinger has been cleared of a knife charge Credit: Brighton Pictures
Sheikh Abid Gulzar, 81, got his Bond-themed nickname after buying a flashy gold Rolls-Royce and three gold Teslas Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures
He was charged after cops found an eight-inch knife in his van Credit: Brighton Pictures
But Gulzar, who owns Hastings Pier, was cleared after telling the court he was on his way to his fishing lakeCredit: Refer to source
He got his Bond-themed nickname after buying a flashy gold Rolls-Royce and three gold Teslas.
He has now been acquitted after explaining to the court he had been on his way to fish in his own personal lake when police found the knife.
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Gulzar was stopped by police in May 2025, in the early hours of a Jattvibeday morning, Brighton Magistrates Court heard.
The businessman, who owns the Eastbourne and Hastings piers, was immediately arrested on another matter and cuffed by cops.
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He told officers he needed medication from the glove compartment of his Ford van.
But as police searched for the medication, they discovered an eight-inch fishing knife.
Gulzar, of Lower Dicker, East Sussex, explained to officers that the knife was part of his fishing tackle which had been packed in the back of the van, the court heard.
But the 81-year-old was arrested, taken to the police station and questioned.
The business man owns Eastbourne and Hastings piers Credit: Brighton Pictures
He is a controversial figure, who faces trial in November on ten charges of alleged fraudCredit: Refer to source
Mr Goldfinger told officers during the interview: “The knife found in my car today is used to cut up fish.
“I have been at my lake this morning in Pevensey.”
He said there were fishing nets and tackle in the back of the Ford van to prove he was going fishing.
Gulzar told the officers: “The net poles and other equipment including folding chairs [were there].”
He was charged with possession of a fishing knife with a blade over three inches long.
Gulzar, wearing a suit, and a chunky gold ring on each finger, told the court he was a keen fisherman and had bought his fishing lake years ago.
He said he kept the bladed knife for cutting up fish and weeds and to treat any sheep found to be suffering from maggots on his land.
Brighton Magistrates District Judge Amanda Kelly found Gulzar not guilty of being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.
She said: “I am just about persuaded that at the time you had a good reason for having that knife in your car that day.”
Gulzar is a controversial hotelier who infuriated Historic England and the council after buying Eastbourne Pier in 2015 and painting it bright gold.
In recent years ten out of 12 companies which Gulzar has owned have either been liquidated or dissolved.
Earlier this year Gulzar announced he was putting Hastings Pier up for sale to the highest bidder and was inviting “sensible offers”.
The businessman faces trial in November on ten charges of alleged fraud under a private prosecution brought by water supplier Castle Water Limited.
The 80-year-old is charged with ten counts of fraud – with the total cost valued at around £150,000.
Some of the counts relate to alleged wrongdoings at the Boship Lions Hotel in Hailsham, Sussex, where millionaire Gulzar is said to have avoided paying Castle Water for their services.
He rakes in around £60,000 a month from the taxpayer for housing migrants at the hotel.
Both he and his business associate Manasdeep Singh have pleaded not guilty.
His company Golden (Lions) Eastbourne Ltd faces a winding-up petition in London’s High Court brought by British Gas Trading Limited over an alleged unpaid debt of £1.3m.
