Three in court over £1m 'fix' (From Penarth Times)

Three in court over £1m 'fix'

A SULLY-born army Major, accused of cheating his way to the jackpot prize on ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire appeared at Bow Street Magistrate's court yesterday.

Major Charles William Ingram, 39, was joined in the dock by his wife Diana Naomi Ingram, 39, both of The Grange, High Street, Easterton, Devises, Wiltshire.

The third defendant, Tecwen Whittock, 54, head of business studies in Pontypridd College, who gave his address as Heol-y-Gors, Whitchurch, Cardiff, was sent with them for trial at Southwark Crown Court. They will next appear on August 28.

During the three-minute hearing in the packed central London court room, they spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses.

All three are charged with conspiring to dishonestly procure show host Christopher Tarrant to sign a cheque by deception by falsely representing Charles Ingram did not receive assistance on diverse dates between January 1 and September 11 last year.

They also face a similar lesser charge of falsely representing, with a view to gain, on September 10 last year, that Charles Ingram did not receive assistance.

Because of the controversy surrounding his £1 million win Ingram's performance was never broadcast amid claims he was helped by coughs from the audience. Ingram serves in the Royal Engineers at Upavon, Wiltshire.

Diana Ingram, a lecturer and nursery nurse, was a £32,000 winner on the show, as was her brother. She wrote a book giving advice on how to scoop the £1 million. Whittock took the "hot seat" after Ingram and went away with £1,000 after getting the £8,000 question wrong.