A GROUP of fraudsters have been jailed after being stopped in their tracks by specialist financial investigators.

Following an arson attack at Cumbria World at Flookburgh in 2016 detectives from Titan (North West Serious and Organised Crime Unit) and financial investigators from Cumbria Constabulary uncovered a series of fraudulent activities relating to the business.

The case centred around five people involved in the creation and running of the family attraction on Moor Lane.

Malcolm Keith, 45, of Somme Avenue, Flookburgh, was charged with two counts of fraud in making fraudulent disclosures in order to make a financial gain and one count of aiding and abetting Michael Milner to contravene a Company Director’s Disqualification Order and Bankruptcy Restrictions Order.

Keith was jailed for 12 months at Preston Crown Court today.

After the fire, Keith even put up a reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible.

Michael Anthony Milner, 49, of Field Broughton, Grange, was charged with eight counts of fraud – all in connection with fraudulent disclosures made in order to make a financial gain, one count of breaching a Company Director’s Disqualification Order and Bankruptcy Restrictions Order and one count of arson in connection with the fire.

Milner was jailed for 30 months.

Elizabeth Rose Egarr, 60, of Chantry Close, Bolton, was charged with the theft of more than £200,000 from Arthur Smiths Solicitors.

Egarr was jailed for 30 months.

Paul Raymond Kelly, 66, of Bardsey near Leeds, was charged with fraud and Sarah Jane Armstrong, 33, of Haigh near Wigan, was charged with perverting the course of justice.

All five were all found guilty after a lengthy trial at Preston Crown Court last month.

Kelly was jailed for 20 months while Armstrong received a 12-month sentence.