Not guilty plea by Army major (From Penarth Times)

Not guilty plea by Army major

A FORMER Sully resident has denied cheating to win a million on ITV's Who Wants to be a Millionaire programme.

Army Major Charles William Ingram pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, October 23, at Southwark Crown Court.

The 39-year-old of High Street, Easterton, Devizes, Wiltshire, denied two offences when he appeared with his wife, Diana, 39, of the same address and Tecwen Whittock, 52, of Hoel-y-Gors, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

All three deny on a day or days between January 1, 2001, and September 11, 2001, conspired together and with others with a view to gain for themselves, or with intent to cause loss to another, dishonestly.

Namely by falsely representing that Charles Ingram did not receive any assistance when answering questions on the television show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

They also plead not guilty to procuring Christopher Tarrant to sign a cheque for £1 million by deception by falsely representing Charles Ingram did not receive any assistance on September 10, 2001, on the show.

Wearing a dark pin-striped suit, checked shirt and patterned tie, bespectacled Major Ingram sat next to his wife Diana, a lecturer and nursery nurse, who wore a fur trimmed charcoal grey matching skirt and jacket. Whittock, a college lecturer, wore a grey suit.

Major Ingram, who serves in the Royal Engineers at Upavon, Wiltshire, and his wife have three children, Portia 11, Rosalind, nine and Hester, aged four, live in a five bedroomed Army-owned house.

All three defendants were remanded on unconditional bail to a date to be fixed, but Judge Geoffrey Rivlin indicated a trial would not be started later than March 3.

The case has been brought amid controversy - Ingram's performance has never been broadcast - as it is believed he was helped by coughing from the studio audience.

His wife was a previous winner on the show as was her brother, both winning £32,000 and 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.