Guernsey Airport £2.6m fraud pair jailed

Adrian Taylor and John Woodhatch were each jailed for five years

Two men involved in a "classic fraud" which saw more than £2.6m stolen from Guernsey's government have each been jailed for five years.

Adrian Taylor, 44, from Kent, and John Woodhatch, 59, from Essex, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

The charges relate to a bogus letter sent to the States of Guernsey asking it to change the bank account details for payments to a contractor.

Lagan Construction was carrying out the £80m refurbishment of the airfield.

Taylor, of The Rosery Guest House, Swanley, and Woodhatch, of Roding Road, Loughton, were told they would not be considered for release on licence until at least half their sentences had been served.

They had both admitted entering into an arrangement to launder money.

Taylor also admitted acquiring criminal property and Woodhatch admitted transferring criminal property.

In summing up, Judge Michael Gledhill QC said the "classic diversion fraud" had "resulted in a substantial sum of public money ending up in the hands of fraudsters."

He described it as "a sophisticated operation which involved substantial planning."

James Martin, representing Woodhatch, said his actions were "a moment of madness".

He said his client had lost his house and his business, and that it would have a lasting effect on him for the rest of his days.

For Taylor, David Iles submitted that his client was simply a "petty criminal" - that his role was small - and that he had no money to his name.

The charge that both men faced of defrauding the States Treasury of £2.6m and a further charge which Woodhatch faced on his own of acquiring that £2.6m were not proceeded with and will remain on file.