TWO brothers are due to be sentenced today for misleading customers over the failed Lapland New Forest attraction.

Victor and Henry Mears were found guilty in February following a two-month trial at Bristol Crown Court.

They were convicted of five counts of engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action and three charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission.

Jurors heard how the brothers from Brighton could have made more than £1 million from the 10,000 advanced ticket sale for the park at Matchams near Ringwood.

Advertising offered visitors a winter wonderland with snow-covered log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs, polar bears and a Christmas market.

But instead shocked visitors; many of whom gave evidence during the trial, were greeted by fairy lights strung from trees and a broken ice rink. Within days of the attraction’s opening in November 2008, hundreds had complained to trading standards.

Less than a week later Lapland New Forest closed; its owners blaming their decision on the media and sabotage by “New Forest villains.”

Victor Mears, the company’s sole director, was assisted by his young brother who was managing Lapland and responsible for the event’s promotion.

During the trial he admitted he had taken “a bit of a gamble” in setting up the doomed enterprise without any investment. He said he had believed money would come in as people bought tickets and claimed he had been bullied and harassed by staff.

Henry Mears said he thought the attraction was everything they promised it would be, adding: “Whatever you do, you will find the public complain about something.”

Judge Mark Horton warned both that they could face being jailed.