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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 the fake devices to countries including Iraq. 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 bombsTruck bombs
Prosecuting QC Richard Whittam said that the justice and foreign affairs ministries in Baghdad were hit by truck bombs - which drove through the checkpoints where the useless devices were operated. 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.
A statement from Robert Lambourne, a former policeman who was seconded to Iraq, was read to the hearing on Thursday. Detective Superintendent Nigel Rock, of Avon and Somerset Police, said that soldiers, police, border guards, and hotel security staff had all trusted the devices.
He said: "I have a firm opinion that the officers believed it was an effective tool... and they took its readings very seriously". 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.
They were based on a $20 (£13) golf ball finders which had no working electronics. 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: