Four sent down for computer kit fraud

A gang of criminals who obtained over #500,000 of computer kit from suppliers after their sham company, Overseas Development, was registered as creditworthy, have been jailed at Southwark Crown Court.

Michael Coleman, a director of the Brighton-based company, pleaded guilty to the joint charge of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for two years.

Edgar Dupont and David Lloyd, who both denied the charge, were sent down for 27 months and 21 months respectively. Anthony Campbell, who changed his plea to guilty during the trial, received a 21-month sentence.

Overseas Development was set up in 1992, but left dormant until 1996 when it submitted a set of accounts to Companies House showing it had a net asset value of #29 million. It had obtained the accounts of a merchant bank from Companies House and doctored them, replacing the name Aitken Hume International with that of Overseas Development.

The false accounts showed Coopers & Lybrand as the firm?s accountant, enabling Overseas to get a high credit scoring. It ordered laptops and printers from firms such as Computacenter, SCC, Ameridata, IBM and Time Computers and sold them on cheaply.

Four other defendants also stood trial. Dale Moore, who was also charged with dishonestly obtaining security equipment, was ordered to pay #5,965; computer broker David Edwards was acquitted; William Clarke was fined #1,250; and Peter Westwood is awaiting sentencing.