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James McCormick guilty of selling fake bomb detectors James McCormick guilty of selling fake bomb detectors
(about 3 hours later)
A millionaire businessman who sold fake bomb detectors to countries including Iraq and Georgia, knowing they did not work, has been convicted of fraud.A millionaire businessman who sold fake bomb detectors to countries including Iraq and Georgia, knowing they did not work, has been convicted of fraud.
James McCormick, 56, of Langport, Somerset, is said to have made £50m from sales and sold over 6,000 to Iraq. James McCormick, 56, of Langport, Somerset, is said to have made £50m from sales and sold more than 6,000 in Iraq, the Old Bailey heard.
The devices, which sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000), were based on a novelty golf ball finder and supposed to detect explosives, people and drugs. Police said the devices, modelled on a novelty golf ball finder, are still in use at some checkpoints.
An Iraqi bomb victim described him to the BBC as a "morally bankrupt" man. One Iraqi bomb victim described him to the BBC as a "morally bankrupt" man.
The models were described by prosecutors as completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science. During Tuesday's hearing at the Old Bailey in London, the court was told McCormick's detectors, which cost up to $40,000 (£27,000) each, were completely ineffectual and lacked any grounding in science.
Richard Whittam QC, for the prosecution, said: "The devices did not work and he knew they did not work."
McCormick's claimsMcCormick's claims
McCormick had claimed the devices could bypass "all forms of concealment", detecting drugs and people along with explosives, the court heard.
He claimed they would work under water and from the air, and would track an object up to 1km (3280ft) below the ground.
The bomb detectors came with cards which were "programmed" to detect a wide array of substances, from ivory to $100 banknotes.
Other substances could be detected, it was claimed, if put in a jar with a sticker which would absorb its "vapours" and was then stuck on a card that would be read by the machine.
In reality, McCormick's device was based on $20 (£13) golf ball finders which he had purchased from the US and which had no working electronics.
Police said McCormick showed a complete disregard for the safety of those who used and relied upon the device for their own security and protection.Police said McCormick showed a complete disregard for the safety of those who used and relied upon the device for their own security and protection.
There is no evidence that he tried to sell to the Ministry of Defence, but an Essex policeman organised a demonstration which was watched by an MoD inspector. The court heard there was no evidence that McCormick had tried to sell the products to the Ministry of Defence.
McCormick claimed that the detectors could bypass "all forms of concealment" and would detect explosives, drugs, and people.
He claimed they would work under water and from the air, and would track an object up to one kilometre below the ground.
Devices came with cards which were "programmed" to detect a wide array of substances from ivory to $100 banknotes.
Other substances could be detected - it was claimed - if put in a jar with a sticker which would absorb its "vapours" and which was then stuck on to a card which would be read by the machine.
In fact McCormick's device was based on $20 (£13) golf ball finders which he had purchased from the US, and had no working electronics.
Richard Whittam QC, who was prosecuting, said "the devices did not work and he knew they did not work."
'Morally bankrupt''Morally bankrupt'
Iraq spent more than $40m (£26.2m) on 6,000 devices between 2008 and 2010. BBC Two's Newsnight programme conducted an investigation into the devices sold by McCormick's company, resulting in a UK government ban on their sale in Iraq and Afghanistan in January 2010.
Haneen Alwan needed 59 operations after she was injured in a bomb blast in January 2009. She was two months pregnant at the time and lost her child. It found that senior Iraqi officials knew the devices did not work and it alleged some had received bribes to ensure they were purchased.
"When people passed through checkpoints using these devices, they thought they would be safe, but they are useless. The man who sold them has no conscience. He is morally bankrupt. How could he sell them just for money and destroy other people's lives?" she told a BBC Newsnight investigation into the case. Iraq spent more than $40m (£26.2m) on 6,000 devices between 2008 and 2010, the programme said.
A senior Iraqi official told the BBC that the useless devices had created a false sense of security - and that no punishment would make up for the blood that had been shed as a result.
The Newsnight programme conducted an investigation into the devices sold by McCormick's company, resulting in a UK government ban on their sale in Iraq and Afghanistan in January 2010.
The investigation revealed that senior Iraqi officials knew the devices did not work and received bribes to ensure they were purchased.
General Jihad al-Jabiri, the head of the Baghdad bomb squad, is currently serving a jail term for corruption, along with two other Iraqi officials.General Jihad al-Jabiri, the head of the Baghdad bomb squad, is currently serving a jail term for corruption, along with two other Iraqi officials.
The Inspector General of the Iraqi interior ministry, Aqil al-Turehi, is conducting an investigation which revealed that a vehicle carrying rockets and missiles passed undetected through 23 checkpoints using the device. One senior Iraqi official told the BBC that the useless devices had created a false sense of security - and that no punishment would make up for the blood that had been shed as a result.
"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. BBC Newsnight also spoke to Haneen Alwan, an Iraqi woman who needed 59 operations after she was injured in a bomb blast in January 2009. She was two months pregnant at the time and lost her child.
She told the programme: "When people passed through checkpoints using these devices, they thought they would be safe, but they are useless. The man who sold them has no conscience. He is morally bankrupt. How could he sell them just for money and destroy other people's lives?"
Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Det Insp Ed Heath told the BBC the devices had been used at numerous checkpoints in Iraq.
He said: "It is clear that both civilians and armed forces personnel were put at significant risk in relying upon this equipment.
"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 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."
Det Supt Nigel Rock of Avon and Somerset Police called McCormick "a conman". The force's Det Supt Nigel Rock described McCormick as a "conman", adding: "We have heard evidence from many, many experts, scientists, leaders in their field, who have said this was a fraud. A sham.
"We have heard evidence from many, many experts, scientists, leaders in their field, who have said this was a fraud. A sham.
"That device has been used and is still being used on checkpoints. People using that device believe it works. It does not.""That device has been used and is still being used on checkpoints. People using that device believe it works. It does not."
Police intend to pursue McCormick's wealth under the Proceeds of Crime Act. McCormick was remanded on conditional bail to be sentenced on 2 May.
The 56-year-old currently owns houses in Florida and Cyprus, as well as a yacht, and recently bought film star Nicholas Cage's mansion in Bath.
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.