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Jail a possibility for £1m attempted fraud
A businessman who tried to con London Underground out of more than £1million in fake compensation claims has been warned jail is "on the cards".
Ronald Mayers, 53, pretended his printing firm had been forced to shut down because of plans to extend the East London railway line.
But he failed to reveal his company was based at two sites - only one of which was affected by the proposed work.
Mayers, from Montford Place in Putney Heath, was arrested by British Transport Police in 2004 after an investigation was launched into his claim for £1.1million.
After a two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of two counts of false accounting.
Judge Paul Dodgson said: "I do not know for certain yet the sentence I will impose but you will know that a custodial sentence is very much on the cards."
Jurors heard London Underground issued Mayers' firm Spirerose Limited with a 'compulsory purchase order'.
Companies affected by such orders are entitled to compensation.
In March 2003 Mayers claimed the company had closed - when it was still operating from Enfield.
He received an initial payment of £200,000 and he also made a claim for the costs of storing machinery while looking for a new site.
Robert O'Sullivan, prosecuting, said: "This is known as double recovery'. The business was trading, it was earning income but it was seeking to have its storage bill paid for by London Underground."
Mayers, claimed the case was a misunderstanding' blaming and spelling and grammar in letters he sent.
The businessman was discovered after a committee met to consider the final claim of more than £1.1million.
He will be sentenced on April 24 at Kingston Crown Court.
7:01am Monday 24th March 2008
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