TWO conmen who were jailed for a scam in which they claimed Drax Power Station was a successful Indian investment had their appeals rejected by top London judges yesterday.

Tadcaster man Paul Mitchell, 44, and Richard Kirkup, 59, were each jailed for three-and-a-half years by Leeds Crown Court in April last year after pleading guilty to fraudulent trading.

Mitchell's wife, Angela, received a two-year sentence for her role in the scam.

The trio swindled more than 1,000 would-be entrepreneurs out of almost £5 million by posing as venture capital consultants.

Calling themselves Anglo American Group, the fraudsters claimed they could deliver financing for projects worth £14 billion.

The group's promotional video showed clients a picture of a power station, with the caption: "Location India - financing a new power station - $150 million." But the image was of Drax Power Station and had no connection with the group.

Bogus claims were also made about a $100 million coalmine in China, a $50 million time-share venture in Spain, and a $10 million mobile phone project in Russia.

Mitchell, of Church Street, in Tadcaster, appealed against the £453,813 confiscation order levelled against him on grounds that he has insufficient funds to meet the payments.

His appeal was rejected by Lord Justice Tuckey - sitting in London with Mr Justice Bean and Judge Sir Charles Mantell - who said there were no grounds for interfering with the order.

Kirkup, from Chesterfie-ld, challenged the length of his sentence on the grounds that he was a reluctant participant in the fraud.

But Lord Justice Tuckey rejected the appeal and accepted prosecution claims Kirkup was in the scam "from its inception".

The three had falsely told investors they were lawyers with experience in investment banking and oil firms.

They rented offices in Mayfair and bought a fleet of luxury cars, including an Aston Martin with the number plate "AAG".

Almost 1,100 victims took the bait, allowing the bogus group to pull in £4.8 million from applicants in 78 countries.

The cash was used to fund the fraudsters' lavish lifestyles, with money chanelled to offshore accounts and used to purchase luxury items.

The trial judge described the fraud as a study in "sheer self-centred greed".

Updated: 09:59 Friday, October 07, 2005