THE brothers behind the failed Lapland New Forest park could serve only 14 weeks of their 13-month sentence behind bars, it has been revealed Victor and Henry Mears, were jailed last Friday after being convicted of misleading customers at the site on the Hampshire border in 2008.

Customers have spoken of their disgust at news they could be freed from prison on an electronic tag after less than 100 days behind bars.

Thousands of people paid up to £30 each but could not get refunds after the park closed early in a welter of bad publicity.

Prisoners are routinely released on licence after half their term, but are eligible for “home detention curfew” for up to four and a half months before that, provided they have served a quarter of their sentence behind bars.

The curfew means offenders are electronically tagged and kept at home for a minimum of nine hours a day.

The rules mean Victor, 67, and Henry, 60, both from Brighton, could spend only three and a quarter months in prison.

The Prison Service said it could not comment on the Mears’ specific case, but said: “To be placed on home detention curfew, a prisoner must have served a quarter of their sentence and have spent a minimum of 30 days in prison.

“Home detention curfew can only be granted subject to a prisoner meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a careful risk assessment.”

Jan Killick, 53, whose family bought tickets worth £200, said: “I think the sentence should mean what it says.

“All the money that has gone missing and no-one is going to get back, and they only do 14 weeks? It’s pathetic.”

A 279-page list of customer claims was filed – with the debts totalling £1.26 million. Liquidators are still to decide whether to pursue the brothers over £200,000 which remains unaccounted for.

They are discussing whether to make them bankrupt.