The owner of a Christian tour operator is guilty of fraud and misleading practice after Mediterranean holidays were cancelled at short notice in 2014.

Following a five day trial a jury at Kingston Crown Court found Robert Fleming guilty of three of six charges, which he had denied last year.

Fleming, of Selwyn Road in New Malden, was found guilty on March 21 of two charges of carrying on business with intent to defraud and one charge of engaging in practice which is misleading.

Three more charges of fraud by abuse of position, engaging in practice which is misleading and failing to provide information before contracts were concluded were stayed by the court.

PREVIOUSLY: Owner of New Malden Christian tour operator in court over fraud charges

PREVIOUSLY: Robert Fleming denies fraud charges

Two companies registered to Fleming’s address – LivingSun Ltd and Kyrilios Ltd – faced an additional six charges between them of engaging in practice which is misleading.

All of the charges relate to a period between January 1, 2014 and November 30, 2014.

Fleming had pleaded not guilty to all charges at a hearing in December last year, but the companies were found guilty of all six yesterday.

He will return to Kingston Crown Court for sentencing on April 13.

LivingSun’s website touted “excellent Christian holidays for people to enjoy God’s creation together”.

It offered Mediterranean cruises to Turkey, Greece and Israel, among others, but pulled out of paid for tours in October 2014 citing political instability leading to a drop in passengers.

Fleming told the Surrey Comet in November 2014 he owed about 18 people a total of £20,000, which he had hoped to pay back by the end of the month.

In September 2010, Fleming admitted two counts of trading illegally by reusing a prohibited company name.

He was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court the following month and given a conditional discharge for two years.