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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lapland-park-pair-could-be-jailed.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Victor Mears was found guilty of misleading customers along with his brother Henry over a Lapland-style theme park" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/min-lapland-park-pair-could-be-jailed.jpg" alt="Victor Mears was found guilty of misleading customers along with his brother Henry over a Lapland-style theme park"/></a></p>
<p>Two brothers could be jailed after they were convicted of misleading thousands of customers into visiting what they claimed was a Lapland-style theme park.</p>
<p>Victor Mears, 67, and brother Henry, 60, offered visitors a winter wonderland with snow-covered log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs, polar bears and other animals, as well as a bustling Christmas market.</p>
<p>But instead of the promised magical festive treat, they experienced fairy lights hung from trees and a broken ice rink.</p>
<p>Within days of the Lapland New Forest attraction opening in November 2008, hundreds of disgruntled visitors complained to trading standards officials that they had been ripped off. Less than a week later, the attraction closed, with the brothers blaming the media and sabotage by &#8220;New Forest villains&#8221; for the decision.</p>
<p>Dorset Trading Standards prosecuted the Mears under consumer protection laws introduced three years ago. The brothers denied eight charges of misleading advertising but they were found guilty on all counts after a jury at Bristol Crown Court heard a catalogue of complaints from a string of disgruntled customers.</p>
<p>With visitors charged £30 a ticket and with up to 10,000 advance bookings online, the Mears brothers were set to gross £1.2 million. They advertised the theme park on its own website, in local newspapers and with flyers.</p>
<p>The eye-catching website offered a &#8220;snow-covered village near Bournemouth&#8221; with a &#8220;magical tunnel of light&#8221;, &#8220;beautiful snow-covered log cabins&#8221;, a &#8220;bustling Christmas market&#8221;, &#8220;wonderful ice rink&#8221; and &#8220;delicious hot and cold seasonal food&#8221;.</p>
<p>People travelled from as far as west Wales, the Midlands and the south east of England to visit the theme park at Matchams Leisure Park, near Ringwood, Hants. Within days of Lapland New Forest opening, thousands of people had complained to Dorset Trading Standards.</p>
<p>Victor, of Selsfield Drive, and Henry, of Coombe Road, both Brighton, stood expressionless in the dock as the jury foreman returned the guilty verdicts after a day of deliberations.</p>
<p>Judge Mark Horton adjourned sentencing until March 18 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports but warned the brothers they could be jailed.</p>
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