Norfolk travel agents cleared of misleading clients - 23 Aug 2007
The directors of a Norfolk-based travel agency have been cleared of misleading clients.
Mark Tull, 28 and Matthew Rigden, 22, directors of Fly By Travel of Lowestoft, and Mark's brother Kevin, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court charged with conspiracy to defraud.
But a jury cleared them last week after the defence argued problems at the company were caused by incompetence rather than criminal intent.
During the three-week trial the prosecution told how Fly By Travel offered cheap holidays for a one-off fee of £39.99. More than 1,000 clients signed up, but only 23 received holidays.
Trading Standards investigated, and found the company had obtained almost £150,000 from clients.
The defence argued the company was unable to book sufficient numbers of tickets at a cheap-enough price.