Brothers guilty of Santa park scam

TWO men who promised Christmas revellers a winter wonderland, but delivered only a mish-mash of garden sheds, fairy lights and a broken ice rink, were facing jail yesterday.

Brothers Victor and Henry Mears ran the disastrous Lapland New Forest Brothers Victor and Henry Mears ran the disastrous Lapland New Forest

Brothers Victor and Henry Mears, who ran the disastrous Lapland New Forest, were found guilty on eight charges of mis- leading thousands of customers.

Visitors had been promised snow-covered log cabins, a nativity scene, huskies, polar bears and a Christmas market for their tickets of about £30 a head. With up to 10,000 advance bookings online, the brothers, from Brighton, East Sussex, were set to gross £1.2million.

But disappointed families arriving at the theme park in November 2008 found a collection of garden sheds with miserable-looking dogs tethered in place. Within days of the attraction opening, hundreds of visitors complained to trading standards officers that they had been ripped off. The park closed less than a week later, with its owners blaming the media and sabotage by “New Forest villains”.

The brothers had advertised a “snow-covered village” with a “magical tunnel of light”, “snow-covered log cabins”, a “bustling Christmas market”, “real reindeer”, “wonderful ice rink” and “delicious hot and cold seasonal food”. The two food stalls sold German sausages and a choice of turkey or pork baguettes.

Brothers Victor and Henry Mears ran the disastrous Lapland New Forest

The Lapland website stated: “The attention to detail of our theme park will truly wow you.”

Families travelled from as far as west Wales, the Midlands and the South-east of England to visit the attraction at Matchams Leisure Park near Ringwood, Hampshire.

Children had to wait for up to three hours in snaking queues and near-freezing temperatures before they could see Santa Claus.

Disappointed customer Thomas Parham spent £150 on tickets to take his children, aged eight and six, his wife and her parents to Lapland on the opening weekend.

Mr Parham, from Crewkerne, Somerset, said: “We drove down this potholed lane, it was rather dilapidated with some scrap cars in a pile down the side.”

Speaking on local radio before the trial, Henry Mears insisted customers were getting what was advertised. Asked whether he was happy with his plastic polar bear, he said: “What do you want us to have – real polar bears?”

The brothers stood expressionless in the dock at Bristol Crown Court yesterday as the jury returned the guilty verdicts.

Prosecutor Malcolm Gibney outlined Victor Mears’s previous convictions, which include prison sentences for obtaining money transfer by deception, VAT evasion and conspiracy to defraud. Henry Mears has no previous convictions relevant to this case, the court heard.

Judge Mark Horton told the brothers they “promised by deceit to satisfy dreams and have delivered misery by way of disappointment to thousands of people”.

He added: “This court is considering whether a term of imprisonment may follow.” The brothers were released on bail until sentencing on March 18.

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