A businessman who lived a life of luxury, buying a home in Bath from Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage, was today jailed for ten years after being convicted of profiting massively from selling fake bomb detectors.
Now police could try to get back some of the money that allowed James McCormick, 56, to fund a lifestyle which included his £3 million home in the Circus.
McCormick, known as Jim, was found guilty at the Old Bailey last month of three counts of fraud after jurors heard the devices did not work.McCormick, of Langport, Somerset, received 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.
Some of the detectors were sold for £27,000 each and McCormick is thought to have received about £37 million from sales to Iraq alone.
He owned a string of luxury properties – including one in the Circus formerly owned by Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage, with its own swimming pool, and had an expensive yacht.
The Old Bailey heard detectors were marketed to the military, police forces and governments around the world using glossy brochures and the internet.
Sentencing McCormick, Judge Richard Hone said he was "the driving force and sole director" behind the scam.
"The device was useless, the profit outrageous, and your culpability as a fraudster has to be considered to be of the highest order."
Avon and Somerset Police's Chief Constable Nick Gargan said: "This is a great result. Let's not forget that it was the foresight and determination of former Chief Constable Colin Port that ensured this inquiry was pursued to its conclusion.
"Without his commitment and leadership there is every chance that James McCormick would still be swindling governments across the globe today."
A police spokesman said: "The Somerset businessman has built up a huge personal fortune, including luxury homes in the UK and overseas, as well as a Sunseeker yacht - all have been restrained by the court.
"We will now seek - under the Proceeds of Crime Act - to claw back the cash generated by McCormick's ambitious but flawed and illegal activity over the past six years."
The date for a confiscation hearing has been set for May 12 next year.
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