Tesco directors acquitted in fraud trial

Two former Tesco directors have been acquitted of charges of fraud and false accounting after the judge dismissed their case due to lack of evidence.

Chris Bush, former UK managing director, and John Scouler, former UK food commercial director, were accused of manipulating figures that resulted in Tesco’s profits being overstated.

In August 2014, Tesco said it expected half-year profits to be about £1.1bn.

However, weeks later it said profits had been overstated by about £250m.

Both Mr Bush and Mr Scouler had denied the charges.

It was alleged they were aware that income was being wrongly included in the company’s financial records to meet targets and make Tesco look financially healthier than it was.

Mr Scouler, 50, from High Wycombe and Mr Bush, 52, of St Albans each denied one count of fraud and another of false accounting. At the time they had benefits packages with Tesco of more than £1m each.

The profits numbers had been flattened from £1.1bn to £250m by early recognition of payments from suppliers who sell their goods in the supermarket’s stores, as well as delays in charging costs.

The defendants had been on trial for eight weeks at Southwark Crown Court.

‘Weak’ case

The acquittal came after trial judge Sir John Royce dismissed the case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), halting the trial after the prosecution presented its case.

“I concluded in certain crucial areas the prosecution case was so weak it should not be left for a jury’s consideration,” Judge Royce said.

The SFO tried to have the decision overturned at Court of Appeal on Wednesday, but was unsuccessful and the men were cleared by Court of Appeal judges.

Richard Sallybanks, partner at BCL Solicitors, representing John Scouler, said: “We are delighted that Mr Scouler leaves court today knowing that the judge, having heard the entirety of the prosecution evidence, reached the firm conclusion that he had no case to answer.

“That decision was obviously correct yet the SFO chose to pursue an appeal which was rejected yesterday.”

The trial jury was discharged and exempted from jury service for 20 years.