Man to be sentenced over fake bomb detectors

A millionaire businessman will be sentenced today after being convicted of selling fake bomb detectors.James McCormick, 56, was found guilty at the Old Bailey last week of three counts of fraud after jurors heard the devices did not work as they were, in fact, based on a golf ball detector.

McCormick, of Langport, Somerset, made an estimated £50 million from sales of his three models to Iraq, Belgium and even the United Nations for use in Lebanon.

But, the court heard, the Advanced Selection Equipment devices had no scientific basis and were based on a £13 American novelty golf ball finder.

Police believe lives were put at risk as the hand-held devices were used at check-points to detect explosives.

Some of the detectors were sold for £27,000 each and McCormick is thought to have made about £37 million from sales to Iraq alone.