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Fake bomb detector seller James McCormick jailed | Fake bomb detector seller James McCormick jailed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Fraudster James McCormick has been jailed for 10 years for selling fake bomb detectors. | Fraudster James McCormick has been jailed for 10 years for selling fake bomb detectors. |
McCormick, 57, of Langport, Somerset perpetrated a "callous confidence trick", said the Old Bailey judge. | McCormick, 57, of Langport, Somerset perpetrated a "callous confidence trick", said the Old Bailey judge. |
He is thought to have made £50m from sales of 7,000 of the fake devices to countries including Iraq. | |
The fraud "promoted a false sense of security" and contributed to death and injury, the judge said. He also described the profit as "outrageous". | The fraud "promoted a false sense of security" and contributed to death and injury, the judge said. He also described the profit as "outrageous". |
Police earlier said the ADE-651 devices, modelled on a novelty golf ball finder, are still in use at some checkpoints. | Police earlier said the ADE-651 devices, modelled on a novelty golf ball finder, are still in use at some checkpoints. |
Sentencing McCormick, Judge Richard Hone said: "You are the driving force and sole director behind [the fraud]." | Sentencing McCormick, Judge Richard Hone said: "You are the driving force and sole director behind [the fraud]." |
He added: "The device was useless, the profit outrageous, and your culpability as a fraudster has to be considered to be of the highest order." | He added: "The device was useless, the profit outrageous, and your culpability as a fraudster has to be considered to be of the highest order." |
One invoice showed sales of £38m over three years to Iraq, the judge said. | One invoice showed sales of £38m over three years to Iraq, the judge said. |
Truck bombs | Truck bombs |
Prosecuting QC Richard Whittam said the justice and foreign affairs ministries in Baghdad were hit by truck bombs - which drove through the checkpoints where the useless devices were operated. | |
The prosecution said the "inescapable conclusion" was that Iraqis died because of their use. | The prosecution said the "inescapable conclusion" was that Iraqis died because of their use. |
Detective Superintendent Nigel Rock, of Avon and Somerset Police, said that soldiers, police, border guards, and hotel security staff had all trusted the devices. | |
Reiterating the judge's comments from inside court, Mr Rock said: "McCormick's profits were obscene, and it fed his greedy and extravagant lifestyle. | |
"And finally, and perhaps most importantly, he has shown no shame, he has shown no remorse, and he carried on with complete cavalier disregard for the consequences of his con-trick." | |
He said the next stage was to ensure that the "extravagant lifestyle is taken away" from McCormick. | |
During McCormick's trial, the court was told the detectors, which cost up to $40,000 (£27,000) each, were completely ineffectual and lacked any grounding in science. | During McCormick's trial, the court was told the detectors, which cost up to $40,000 (£27,000) each, were completely ineffectual and lacked any grounding in science. |
He said Iraqi authorities will now be "pursuing compensation through the civil court process in this country". | |
The devices were based on a $20 (£13) golf ball finders which had no working electronics. | |
McCormick had claimed the devices could bypass "all forms of concealment", detecting drugs and people, as well as explosives, the court had heard. | McCormick had claimed the devices could bypass "all forms of concealment", detecting drugs and people, as well as explosives, the court had heard. |
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. | |
How the device was meant to work: |