A former NASA scientist has been ordered to repay more than £650,000 to victims of a fraudulent investment scheme he operated for over three years. John Burford, 86, generated in excess of £1 million from more than 100 investors through his bogus 'Tramline Trader' scheme.
Burford, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was previously jailed for two years in September 2025 after admitting to one count of fraud by false representation and three counts of unauthorized trading. He has since served his sentence.
During a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Southwark Crown Court, the Crown sought a total benefit figure of £1,250,946.22. However, the court accepted that Burford has realizable assets totaling £655,951.40.
Judge Nathaniel Rudolf, KC, issued a confiscation order for the realizable amount, with a default jail term of five years if Burford fails to pay within three months. Burford's defense counsel stated that he has “nothing left” and that his children are estranged from him.
The 'Tramline Trader' scheme was named after a book Burford published, titled 'A practical guide to swing trading with tramlines, Elliott Waves and Fibonacci levels,' which purported to offer a straightforward trading method.
Prosecutors indicated that Burford received approximately £450,000 from subscription services and close to £1 million in investments. However, he only traded £760,000 of his clients' funds, losing nearly all of it. The remaining money was used for a new home, holidays, and dining at high-end restaurants.
Victims reported significant losses and emotional distress. One individual who followed Burford's newsletter for years invested £50,000, while another invested £30,000, stating Burford seemed "very believable." A 62-year-old victim invested £10,000 intended for retirement, and a 64-year-old man undergoing prostate cancer treatment said the experience dented his confidence in trading and caused him psychological damage.
Burford used £250,000 of the illicit funds to purchase a new home, though the total cost and location of the property were not specified. He was the sole director of Financial Trading Strategies Ltd but was not authorized to conduct trading activities in the UK.
Burford's career began with a physics degree from Bristol in 1961, after which he joined NASA in Washington D.C. and was part of the Mars exploration team. During his time at NASA, he was introduced to financial markets and opened a trading account. He later moved into financial services after various business ventures, including stained glass production. Upon returning to the UK, he published his book on trading in 2014 and had been blogging about financial matters since 2012, reportedly holding a decent reputation in some financial circles and having been published in various magazines.