Trio deny £1m TV scam (From Barry And District News)

Trio deny £1m TV scam

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 that between January 1, 2001, and September 11, 2001, they conspired together, and with others, with a view to dishonestly gain for themselves, or intend to cause loss to another.

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