Charles Ingram

Charles Ingram is an ex-British Army Major who made headlines in the United Kingdom when he was accused of cheating on the television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Despite later being convicted of conspiracy and deception, Ingram maintains he did not cheat.

Related Topics:
British Army - Major - United Kingdom - Cheating - Television show - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Conspiracy - Deception

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The show was recorded on September 10, 2001. Ingram won the £1,000,000 prize, but the payout was suspended when he was accused of cheating by having an accomplice (Tecwen Whittock) cough when he read out the correct answer. Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court lasting a month, Major Ingram, his wife Diana Ingram and Tecwen Whittock were convicted of conspiracy and "procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception" on 7 April 2003. Ingram and his wife were each given suspended 18-month prison sentences and fined £15,000, while Whittock received a 12-month suspended sentence and was fined £10,000.

Related Topics:
September 10 - 2001 - Prize - Accomplice - Cough - Trial - Southwark - Crown Court - Convicted - 7 April - 2003 - Suspended - Prison - Sentences - Fine

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In October 2003, Ingram was convicted on two charges of deception in an insurance case and given a two-year conditional discharge. Ingram and his wife had participated in the Channel Four programme Wife Swap earlier that month.

Related Topics:
Insurance - Channel Four - Wife Swap

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A civil engineering graduate from the University of London, in 1986 he trained for the army at Sandhurst and was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Engineers. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1995, but on 24 July 2003 the British Army ordered Charles Ingram to resign his commission.

Related Topics:
Civil engineering - Graduate - University of London - Army - Sandhurst - Commissioned as an officer - Royal Engineers - Promoted - Rank - 24 July - 2003

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Following his insurance conviction, a "fly-on-the-wall" BBC television documentary showed Ingram trying to build a career in television and public speaking. He took part in the 2004 London Marathon, and Channel 4's reality TV show The Games in April 2004.

Related Topics:
Fly-on-the-wall - BBC - Television documentary - Television - Public speaking - London Marathon - Channel 4 - The Games - April 2004

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Ingram lost an appeal in May 2004 against the financial penalties imposed for trying to cheat in the quiz show. However, lawyers succeeded in putting forward a case for his wife not having to pay fines or costs for her part in the deception.

Related Topics:
May 2004 - Lawyer

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Diana Ingram was also a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, winning £32,000 in April 2001. Her brother, Adrian Pollock, won the same prize in a December 2000 appearance.

Related Topics:
April 2001 - December - 2000

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Ingram declared bankruptcy in December 2004. He could still face time in prison if he does not pay his outstanding fines.

Related Topics:
Bankruptcy - December 2004

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An essay http://www.portia.org/chapter14/major.html written by James Plaskett in favour of the innocence of Ingram, his wife and Whittock led to the journalist Bob Woffinden, who had a long time interest in miscarriages of justice, publishing a two-page article in the 9 October, 2004 edition of the British newspaper the Daily Mail, entitled "Is The Coughing Major Innocent?"

Related Topics:
Essay - James Plaskett - Journalist - Miscarriages of justice - 9 October - 2004 - Newspaper - Daily Mail

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In late June 2005, it was revealed by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club that Charles Ingram had tried to sell tickets he won to the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Final match, on eBay. Such a practice is forbidden by the Club, and Charles Ingram could face possible legal action.

Related Topics:
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club - Wimbledon - EBay

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