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James McCormick guilty of selling fake bomb detectors James McCormick guilty of selling fake bomb detectors
(35 minutes later)
Millionaire businessman James McCormick, 56, has been convicted at the Old Bailey of three counts of fraud after selling fake bomb detectors.Millionaire businessman James McCormick, 56, has been convicted at the Old Bailey of three counts of fraud after selling fake bomb detectors.
The Advanced Detection Equipment was based on a golf ball finder device and sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000) in Iraq, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Niger.The Advanced Detection Equipment was based on a golf ball finder device and sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000) in Iraq, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Niger.
McCormick, of Langport, Somerset, made an estimated £50m from sales of his fake detectors.McCormick, of Langport, Somerset, made an estimated £50m from sales of his fake detectors.
He marketed the detectors to military, governments and police and even the UN.He marketed the detectors to military, governments and police and even the UN.
The models were described by prosecutors as completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science.The models were described by prosecutors as completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science.
There is no evidence that he tried to sell to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), but an Essex policeman organised a demonstration which was watched by an MoD inspector.There is no evidence that he tried to sell to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), but an Essex policeman organised a demonstration which was watched by an MoD inspector.
McCormick claimed that the detectors could bypass "all forms of concealment".McCormick claimed that the detectors could bypass "all forms of concealment".
However Richard Whittam QC, who was prosecuting, said "the devices did not work and he knew they did not work."However Richard Whittam QC, who was prosecuting, said "the devices did not work and he knew they did not work."
Iraq spent more than $40m on 6000 devices between 2008 and 2010.
"The devices were used at numerous checkpoints within Iraq during this period. It is clear that both civilians and armed forces personnel were put at significant risk in relying upon this equipment" said Det Insp Ed Heath of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the deputy senior investigating officer
"McCormick showed a complete disregard for the safety of those that used and relied upon the device for their own security and protection. He amassed many millions of pounds through his greed and criminal enterprise."
McCormick was remanded on conditional bail and will be sentenced on 2 May.McCormick was remanded on conditional bail and will be sentenced on 2 May.
Watch Newsnight's full report on the fake bomb detector story and the programme's investigation into it at 22:30 BST on BBC Two on Tuesday 23 April 2013.Watch Newsnight's full report on the fake bomb detector story and the programme's investigation into it at 22:30 BST on BBC Two on Tuesday 23 April 2013.