Two men involved in a scheme to rake in almost £3 million of taxpayers’ cash in an elaborate countryside scam have been convicted.

Counterfeit bids were launched to net £2.7m in grant money from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) funds designed to boost rural communities in Kent, and one man has been found not guilty.

A jury by majority ruled Robin Turney, 41, guilty of playing a part in the scam after Simon Fitch, 46, admitted fraud at an earlier hearing.

Fitch, a senior figure at former Tonbridge firm International Controlled Atmosphere (ICA), claimed director Andrew Wills, 48, spearheaded the scam.

But a jury acquitted Wills by majority verdict at Canterbury Crown Court, following a three-week trial.

Prosecutors told how Wills’ firm won nine Rural Development Scheme handouts to carry out cold storage work on farms between 2015-2017.

Under the grant, farmers must provide quotes from two independent companies, as well as their preferred contractor, to help ensure a level playing field.

A Defra probe uncovered Fitch invented fake quotes from numerous firms at higher rates.

It meant ICA could then undercut the bogus competition and won the Government handouts.

The ploy unravelled when Defra investigator Susie Toddington probed the companies, who confirmed they hadn’t created the quotations.

Prosecutor James Thacker told the jury damning email chains between the trio containing doctored quotes evidenced Wills’ part in the plot.

But Wills, a director of 15-years, argued he filed or forwarded the emails unaware of illegal material.

He claimed ex-site-safety manager Fitch was an “erratic liability” who “wasn’t all there”.

Chris Daw QC, defending Wills, asserted the former employee turned on his client in an attempt to get a lighter sentence.

Defra released no money to the firm after becoming suspicious of corruption, judge Mark Weekes heard.

The jury by majority acquitted Wills, of Church Yard Cottage in Speldhurst, Tunbridge Wells, for the possession of articles for use in fraud.

Turney, of Pools Barn Farm, Henley-in-Arden, represented by Adrian Maxwell, was acquitted of supplying articles for use in fraud but convicted of knowingly or recklessly furnishing false or misleading information.

Fitch, of Old Hadlow Road in Tonbridge, pleaded guilty to making and supplying articles for use in fraud at Maidstone Crown Court at a previous hearing.

Both men will be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court later this year pending probation reports.

ICA fell into administration in 2017 after more than a century, with the loss of 74 jobs.

The company built cold stores for vegetables, prepared meals, bakery, processed meat and drinks - and also served the pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing industries.

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