X Factor star’s father33 guilty of £4.7m fraud
Ella’s conman dad facing up to 10 years
ELLA Henderson’s father is facing up to 10 years in jail over a £4.7million fraud.
Sean Henderson, 51, fleeced investors in a get-rich-quick scheme and cheated the taxman.
The former car salesman was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and VAT fraud over the course of three trials – and restrictions on naming Ella were lifted yesterday.
Henderson, who was heavily involved in the X Factor 2012 star’s career, had denied all charges.
Conspiracy to defraud carries a maximum 10 years, a fine or both.
After his 2013 arrest, Ella reportedly said: “We’re a very strong family. It takes a lot for me to break down or cry. Someone would have to be terminally ill.” Ella, 21, came sixth in the ITV contest. She was signed by Simon Cowell’s label and her debut album topped the chart.
Ella was named in court as answering the door when her dad’s Lincolnshire home was raided, saying he was at her London home.
Henderson ran sales and marketing firm Crystal Power with Irish partner Stephen Keegan, in a con that made €5.4million. Prosecutor David Dixon said he was in gas and power before the market changed and he lost deals. Investors got excuses including the Mafia stealing cash.
Mr Dixon told the second Sheffield crown court trial: “He became a thief to meet his own greed.”
In his first trial in May 2016, Henderson was found guilty of conspiring to defraud between October 2009 and November 2010. In the second, in October last year, he was convicted of evading VAT between June and December 2007.
He was yesterday cleared of fraud in 2011 after the third trial. Sentencing is in November.
Keegan, 45, of Wimborne, Dorset, admitted guilt and got three years nine months in April.
We’re a very strong family. It takes a lot for me to break down ELLA REPORTED REACTION TO DAD’S ARREST IN 2013