Milionaire cheats face huge bills (From Penarth Times)

Milionaire cheats face huge bills

THE CHEATING trio who tricked their way to the £1 million jackpot prize on Who wants to be a Millionaire are facing an uncertain future.

Army Major Charles Ingram, his wife Diana and local college lecturer Tecwen Whittock were convicted by a ten to one majority at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

Both Ingrams were given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years, each fined £15,000 and each ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

Whittock was given a 12-months prison sentence suspended for two years, fined £10,000 with £7,500 costs.

Failure to pay the fines within three months will mean the Ingrams will have to serve nine months in jail and Whittock six months.

Ingram and his wife Diana, pictured above, who are formerly from Sully, may now lose everything.

The face a heavy financial bill, Major Ingram may lose his job which in turn would force them to lose their army-owned home.

Whittock, who is also reported to be heavily in debt, may also face the sack from Pontypridd College.

All three are considering an appeal Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC, said: "I'm not at all sure, it was sheer greed that motivated you - I am sure all three were besotted with quiz shows.

"It was a shabby schoolboy trick you planned and had no notion it would go on to win £1 million - it was more by luck than good management it did.

"It was plain from all the evidence the joy was shortlived and it turned sour when you realised you'd gone too far."

Describing it as a "most unusual and exceptional case," the judge went on to commend those involved in the investigation.

The ex-Sully Army Major, his wife, and a college lecturer were found guilty of cheating in order to win the £1million prize in TV's Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana, both 39, and Tecwen Whittock, 52, of procuring the £1million cheque from presenter Chris Tarrant.

Both Ingrams were given an 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years, each fined £15,000 and each ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

Whittock was given a 12 months prison sentence suspended for two years, fined £10,000 with £7,500 costs.

Failure to pay the fines within three months will mean the Ingrams will have to serve nine months in jail and Whittock six months.

Ingram and his wife Diana, originally from Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, live in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Head of business studies at Pontypridd College, Cardiff, Whittock lives in Whitchurch, Cardiff.

Ingram served in the Royal Engineers at Upavon Wiltshire, although the conviction has cost him his job.

The eight women and three men on the jury watched a video of the show recorded on September 10, 2001, on which they heard Whittock cough 19 times to guide Major Ingram towards the right answers.

Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC imposing the sentences said: "I'm not at all sure it was sheer greed that motivated you.

"I am sure all three were besotted with quiz shows and wanting to be successful.

"It was a shabby schoolboy trick you planned and had no notion it would go on to win £1 million.

"It was more by luck than good management it did.

"It was plain from all the evidence the joy was shortlived and it turned sour when you realised you'd gone too far."

Describing it as a "most unusual and exceptional case," the judge went on to commend the police officers involved in the investigation.