<p><br /> Two brothers have been convicted of misleading thousands of customers into visiting what they claimed was a Lapland-style theme park.<br /> </p><p><br /> Victor and Henry Mears had denied eight charges brought in connection with their disastrous Lapland New Forest theme park.<br /> </p><p><br /> 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.<br /> </p><p><br /> Victor, 67, of Selsfield Drive, and Henry, 60, of Coombe Road, both Brighton, could have made more than £1 million from up to 10,000 advanced ticket sales for the theme park.<br /> </p><p><br /> Visitors were offered 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. But instead of the promised magical festive treat, they experienced fairy lights hung from trees and a broken ice rink.<br /> </p><p><br /> Within days of the attraction opening in November 2008, hundreds of disgruntled visitors to the park on the Hampshire-Dorset border complained to trading standards officials that they had been ripped off. Less than a week later, the attraction closed, with its owners blaming the media and sabotage by "New Forest villains" for the decision.<br /> </p><p><br /> The brothers were convicted after a two-month trial of five charges of engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action and three of engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading omission.<br /> </p><p><br /> Judge Mark Horton adjourned sentencing until March 18 for the preperation of pre-sentence reports but warned the brothers they could be jailed.<br /> </p>
