Businessmen defrauded Dome by £4m

The Dome was labelled a 'troubled venue' after a series of woes

Two men defrauded the Millennium Dome's operator out of nearly £4m to fund a "luxury lifestyle", it was revealed.

Simon Brophy, 39, and David Gordon, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the New Millennium Experience Company.

Brophy, from Wakefield, near Leeds, used his position as head of the Dome's lighting to ensure a lucrative contract went to Pro Design - a firm he owned.

Gordon was a Pro Design director. Reporting restrictions were lifted after three defendants were acquitted.

Brophy and Gordon are to be sentenced at a date fixed later this month.

The contract was initially worth £1.9m, but in the end £3.9m was paid under it, the investigation found.

Police found Brophy had set up the firm, of which Gordon was listed as a director, for his own benefit.

Brophy had channelled money abroad and funded a lavish lifestyle, police said.

'Complex' case

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Kibble, who led the investigation said it had been "an extremely complex fraud inquiry".

"This was a carefully planned attempt to defraud NMEC of millions of pounds," he said.

He added: "Simon Brophy channelled the proceeds of the crime offshore to bank accounts in Latvia, Switzerland and the United States.

"They used some of the money to fund a luxurious lifestyle, travelling abroad extensively, purchasing property in Florida Keys, a helicopter, narrow boat and have a yacht in Malta."

The NMEC had become suspicious in September 2000 and called in the Metropolitan Police.

It resulted in an investigation by the Public Sector Corruption Team and the Met's Economic and Specialist Crime Directorate.

Detectives found false information within the tender document submitted by Pro Design.

Brophy, Gordon and several others were charged with conspiracy to defraud the NMEC and fraudulent trading.

Brophy pleaded guilty to these charges at Southwark Crown Court in February this year. He also pleaded guilty to furnishing false information and removing the proceeds of crime from the UK.

Gordon, who is originally from Australia and lives in the Isle of Wight, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the NMEC and fraudulent trading at a separate hearing.

Five other people charged in connection with the case were found not guilty or had charges discontinued.