A YORK pensioner fleeced of thousands in a timeshare scam today told of his delight that five businessmen face jail for the crime.

John Davidson and his wife, Vera, were among up to 17,000 holidaymakers who lost money in the £30m swindle involving resorts across Tenerife, an Old Bailey trial heard.

The jury convicted Simon Stevens, 36, of Kent, Malcolm Watsford-Wallace, 52, of Berkshire, Michael Harbison, 35, of Middlesex, Martin Addington-Smith, 48, of Sussex and Alexander Thompson, 52, of Northamptonshire, of conspiracy to defraud. All five had denied the charge.

Mr Davidson told the Evening Press today: "I'm pleased at the outcome but not pleased at all the hassle it gave me. I got sucked in, but it was a bona fide company and I thought why should I disbelieve them.

"I felt foolish when I realised this was a scam but I was just one of a lot of people being ripped off.

"I'm hoping this will make an example just in case there are other people hoodwinking older holidaymakers."

Mr and Mrs Davidson, of Owlwood Lane, Dunnington, lost £4,000 when they were approached on holiday to buy a week of holiday time at nearby Yucca Park, Tenerife, on the understanding their existing fortnight would be re-sold at a profit. They accepted the deal but when their original weeks were not sold they pulled out and were told their £4,200 would not be refunded.

Mr Davidson said in court earlier in the trial: "We were living on a pension. We were told that in the unlikely event of the sale not being successful the money would be refunded in full. We were going to have to go into our savings to do it, which we didn't want to have to do because we were living on the produce of our savings."

Today Mr Davidson told the Evening Press there was a time when pensioners in Tenerife would be approached constantly to sign up to deals like this but that had now changed.

He said: "Now I walk the streets and never get pestered."

All five men are due to be sentenced on June 29.