ShelterBox cash paid for son's new house, a court hears

Tom Henderson (pictured), his son John, and Darren Gervis are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of conspiracy to commit fraud

Money from a disaster-relief charity may have been used to buy a new home for the company boss's son, the Old Bailey heard.

Tom Henderson, 64, from Helston, and his son John, 35, from Hayle, both in Cornwall, are accused of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Darren Gervis, 42, from Beaminster, Dorset, is accused of trying to conceal John Henderson's involvement once questions were raised.

All three deny the charges.

Board member Ian Munday said there was "a vigorous discussion" over a cheque for £263,200 made payable to Camping Solutions, owned by John Henderson.

Mr Munday told the Old Bailey: "It slipped through the net."

Revised guidelines

He said it was "a shock" when it was suggested the payment for stoves had in fact been used to pay for a new home for John Henderson.

Tom Henderson told board members the cheque was "for the advance purchase of steel for the manufacture of stoves".

He insisted it was common practice to make advance payments in China and the steel was being bought before the price went up

Mr Munday said board members "wanted to believe Tom" but it was "intimated" the payment had been directly for the benefit of John Henderson.

The board drew up revised guidelines regarding how cheques should be dealt with in future.

But the charity boss continued to make payments to his son without observing the new protocols.

He continued to hand lucrative contracts to his son until 2012 and brought in Mr Gervis to conceal the fraud, it is claimed.

The accused deny conspiracy to commit fraud between 15 January 2007 and 31 December 2012

Mr Henderson set up ShelterBox in his garage in 2000 to deliver humanitarian aid to the victims of disasters around the world, the court has heard.

The trial continues.