An art dealer from Hayle in Cornwall is set to be sentenced on July 16 after entering last minute guilty pleas to seven charges of fraud at Truro Crown Court last week.

David Carter, 57 of Prospect Close, Hayle had initially denied claims that he deliberately sold cheap imitations as genuine works of art. He had also denied deliberately exaggerating the value of paintings supposedly by famous artists such as Alfred Wallis and John Brett. Faced with evidence from scientists and art experts from across the country, Carter pleaded guilty to seven of the charges.

The court heard that Carter bought paintings for as little as £300 from "unreliable sources" such as websites called “any old tatt.” He then advertised them for sale through his gallery or via his website describing them as being by well-known artists and with a price tag of up to £65,000, a potential mark-up of 20,000 per cent.

The prosecution, brought by Cornwall Council Trading Standards, followed a three year investigation and was described by Judge Harvey Clarke as “remarkable and brave.”