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| No complaints over bomb detectors, fraud accused tells court | No complaints over bomb detectors, fraud accused tells court |
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| A British businessman accused of producing a useless bomb detector based on a novelty golf ball finder has told a jury he sold his devices to armies and police forces around the world and did not receive any complaints about them. | A British businessman accused of producing a useless bomb detector based on a novelty golf ball finder has told a jury he sold his devices to armies and police forces around the world and did not receive any complaints about them. |
| James McCormick, 56, who worked from a modest office in Somerset, confirmed that he sold hundreds of his detectors to Iraq and said United Nations peacekeepers were issued with the equipment in Lebanon. | James McCormick, 56, who worked from a modest office in Somerset, confirmed that he sold hundreds of his detectors to Iraq and said United Nations peacekeepers were issued with the equipment in Lebanon. |
| He told the Old Bailey in London that his devices were once used to search a hotel before a visit to Europe by an American president, and said he even demonstrated one in a minefield in Niger – and found a live bomb with it. | He told the Old Bailey in London that his devices were once used to search a hotel before a visit to Europe by an American president, and said he even demonstrated one in a minefield in Niger – and found a live bomb with it. |
| Asked by his barrister, Jonathan Laidlaw QC, whether he would have used his detector in a minefield if he had believed it would not work, McCormick replied: "Certainly not." | Asked by his barrister, Jonathan Laidlaw QC, whether he would have used his detector in a minefield if he had believed it would not work, McCormick replied: "Certainly not." |
| The prosecution alleges that McCormick's devices, which he sold for as much as $40,000 each, did not work and that he knew as much. | The prosecution alleges that McCormick's devices, which he sold for as much as $40,000 each, did not work and that he knew as much. |
| McCormick's publicity claims the handheld detectors can pick up minuscule traces of explosive, drugs and other substances from as far away as 1km at ground level, and from a height of 5km in a plane. | McCormick's publicity claims the handheld detectors can pick up minuscule traces of explosive, drugs and other substances from as far away as 1km at ground level, and from a height of 5km in a plane. |
| But the prosecution has told the jury that such claims are "simply fantastic" and that renowned experts concluded there was "no grounding" in science for them. | But the prosecution has told the jury that such claims are "simply fantastic" and that renowned experts concluded there was "no grounding" in science for them. |
| McCormick said he had left school in Liverpool with four mediocre O-levels and spent two years in the police before working as a salesmen for companies selling radio and telecommunications equipment, eventually working in Africa and the Middle East. | McCormick said he had left school in Liverpool with four mediocre O-levels and spent two years in the police before working as a salesmen for companies selling radio and telecommunications equipment, eventually working in Africa and the Middle East. |
| In the 90s he set up on his own, again selling radio equipment, mainly to Africa. When the mobile phone boom undermined that business he began casting around for different opportunities and heard about a device that it was claimed could detect substances such as explosives and drugs. | In the 90s he set up on his own, again selling radio equipment, mainly to Africa. When the mobile phone boom undermined that business he began casting around for different opportunities and heard about a device that it was claimed could detect substances such as explosives and drugs. |
| McCormick helped sell the device, which cannot be named for legal reasons, to countries including Saudi Arabia, Mexico and China. He fell out with the producers and decided to launch his own range. | McCormick helped sell the device, which cannot be named for legal reasons, to countries including Saudi Arabia, Mexico and China. He fell out with the producers and decided to launch his own range. |
| McCormick conceded that one of his detectors, the ADE (Advanced Detection Equipment) 100, was the same as a "novelty" golf ball finder. But he told the jury his other devices – the ADE 101, ADE 650 and ADE 651 – were sold to agencies including the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt, border control in Thailand and the intelligence service in Libya. "I never had any negative results from customers," he said. | McCormick conceded that one of his detectors, the ADE (Advanced Detection Equipment) 100, was the same as a "novelty" golf ball finder. But he told the jury his other devices – the ADE 101, ADE 650 and ADE 651 – were sold to agencies including the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt, border control in Thailand and the intelligence service in Libya. "I never had any negative results from customers," he said. |
| McCormick, who denies three counts of fraud relating to the 101, 650 and 651, said one of his devices was used to check a hotel in Romania before a visit from a US president in the 90s. He was told that such a sweep usually took weeks but had been much quicker with his equipment. | McCormick, who denies three counts of fraud relating to the 101, 650 and 651, said one of his devices was used to check a hotel in Romania before a visit from a US president in the 90s. He was told that such a sweep usually took weeks but had been much quicker with his equipment. |
| He described how he worked with a retired general in Lebanon who sold the equipment to the army there and to Unifil, the United Nations interim force in Lebanon. | He described how he worked with a retired general in Lebanon who sold the equipment to the army there and to Unifil, the United Nations interim force in Lebanon. |
| Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, has told the jury the devices typically comprise a handle fitted with a retractable antenna. The handle is connected via a wire to a pouch. In the pouch is a card that is said to encode information about the substance to be detected. | Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, has told the jury the devices typically comprise a handle fitted with a retractable antenna. The handle is connected via a wire to a pouch. In the pouch is a card that is said to encode information about the substance to be detected. |
| Whittam said McCormick has claimed that the card is "programmed" or "activated" by being placed in a jar for a week to "absorb the vapours" of the target substance, whether it be explosives, drugs, ivory or even human tissue. He has said the device is powered by static electricity emanating from the user. | Whittam said McCormick has claimed that the card is "programmed" or "activated" by being placed in a jar for a week to "absorb the vapours" of the target substance, whether it be explosives, drugs, ivory or even human tissue. He has said the device is powered by static electricity emanating from the user. |
| But Whittam told the jury that X-rays had shown there was no connection between the antenna and the card in the pouch on the user's belt. The trial continues. | But Whittam told the jury that X-rays had shown there was no connection between the antenna and the card in the pouch on the user's belt. The trial continues. |
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