This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35373234

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Magazine fraudster George Williams jailed for seven years Magazine fraudster George Williams jailed for seven years
(about 1 hour later)
A man who conned thousands of small businesses into paying for advertising in a fake magazine has been jailed for seven years. A man who conned small firms into paying for adverts in a fake magazine has been jailed for seven years.
George Williams, 51, led a Liverpool-based team which told potential clients the publication was distributed to all members of the UK emergency services. George Williams, 51, led a Liverpool-based team that made £5m over three years by telling potential clients that the publication was distributed to all members of the UK emergency services.
In reality, only a small number of magazines were ever printed.In reality, only a small number of magazines were ever printed.
Jailing Williams, Judge Robert Warnock said he was a "predatory industrial-scale fraudster". Judge Robert Warnock said Williams, from Linacre Road in Liverpool, was a "predatory industrial-scale fraudster".
Williams and his operations manager Gayle Leahair were convicted after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.Williams and his operations manager Gayle Leahair were convicted after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Both denied conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and fraudulent trading throughout their 12-week trial last year.Both denied conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and fraudulent trading throughout their 12-week trial last year.
Four other defendants who were accused of being sales reps and knowingly involved in the scam pleaded guilty during the trial.Four other defendants who were accused of being sales reps and knowingly involved in the scam pleaded guilty during the trial.
'Fraudulent sales pitches'
A fifth person, who acted as the sales manager, also admitted offences of counselling and procuring the four reps to commit their fraudulent sales pitches.A fifth person, who acted as the sales manager, also admitted offences of counselling and procuring the four reps to commit their fraudulent sales pitches.
The team were arrested after a five-year investigation instigated by Trading Standards and Consumer Direct, who spotted a pattern of complaints and contacted Merseyside Police.The team were arrested after a five-year investigation instigated by Trading Standards and Consumer Direct, who spotted a pattern of complaints and contacted Merseyside Police.
Working from a rented office in Dale Street, Williams and his team called themselves Weinstein Williams Associates.Working from a rented office in Dale Street, Williams and his team called themselves Weinstein Williams Associates.
They used contact lists obtained from other fraudsters to pressure small and medium-sized businesses into taking out adverts in their publication, Emergency Services News.They used contact lists obtained from other fraudsters to pressure small and medium-sized businesses into taking out adverts in their publication, Emergency Services News.
They did print a small number of the magazine, but only as a front so they had copies to send back to the advertisers.They did print a small number of the magazine, but only as a front so they had copies to send back to the advertisers.
Police said about 30,000 magazines were printed over three years, but to get the amount of exposure they were promising their clients, they would have had to have sold 1.2 million per year.Police said about 30,000 magazines were printed over three years, but to get the amount of exposure they were promising their clients, they would have had to have sold 1.2 million per year.