A renowned art dealer, part of a gang flooding the

A renowned art dealer, part of a gang flooding the London market
with fake artwork, has been jailed for a year.

In a millionaire to rags story, 47-year-old John Fairfield turned
to crime after being made bankrupt in the United States.

It was to be a scam capable of making TV’s popular antique dealing
character ‘Lovejoy’ blush.

Fake paintings by Noel Coward and European modern artists were sold
through auction rooms – including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillip’s.

Other fake pieces included silver spoons allegedly once belonging to
the Imperial Russian Royal Family and made by Karl Faberge, coins,
etchings, silver cigarette cases supposedly from Tiffanys, the New
York jeweller, were also offered for sale.

Many of the silver artwork had a much humbler origin – they were made
by a Finchley toolmaker.

Fairchild, who once rubbed shoulders with President Ronald Reagan and
the then Vice-President George Bush, pleaded guilty to seven charges
of obtaining by deception, two of obtaining by deception and a
further charge of handling stolen goods at Southwark Crown Court.

His potential gain was said to be about pounds 16,000, although he
only netted pounds 9,000.

However, investigators believe the gang were looking at grabbing
arounds one million pounds.

Sentencing Judge Eugene Cotran said: ‘I sincereley hope that as a man
of obvious talent that when you come out you will perform those
talents in a more honest way.

‘
Mr Dorian Lovell-Pank, prosecuting, said the scheme was complicated,
and involved ‘the passing off of works of art as originals, be they
paintings, drawings, coins, or other items of interest to the art
world.

‘
Counsel said that Fairchild and whoever he was working with had a
‘sophisticated knowledge’ of noteworthy artwork.

‘Not just turning up at Sotheby’s with a fake’ said Mr Lovell-Pank,
but giving any work ‘the right pedigree’ through forgery.

In the case of paintings, Mr Lovell-Pank said young artists were paid
to recreate pictures at Fairchild’s daughter’s Hampstead flat, which
he labelled ‘a factory.

‘
Two years ago Nadia Fairchild, aged in her early twenties, of Willow
Road, Hampstead, escaped jail with a two year suspended sentence
after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud.

Counsel said Fairchild had been an extremely successful Californian
based businessman until he faced ruin and returned to London in 1986.

He said the father of three daughters then set up his family home in
Back Lane, Hampstead.

‘By October 1988 it was apparent that numbers of suspect items had
been and were entered for sale with auctioneers and dealers across
the country but predominantly in London,’ said Mr Lovell-Pank.

‘The incidence of fake material coming to the surface formed a
pattern and a surveillance operation was mounted on Fairchild and his
family.

‘
In November 1988 police cracked down, raiding four adresses –
Fairchild’s, his daughter Nadia’s, his father’s, and the address of
an associate.

Counsel said property connected with the manufacture of fakes was
seized.

Also found were letters and documents relating to an ‘intricate but
sustained fraud’ involving the defendant and others.

Bailed by police over the fraud, Fairchild was jailed in November
1988 for a mortgage and DHS fraud.

The court heard that on his return from the USA he had claimed
benefit after saying he was destitute but obtained a pounds 150,000
mortgage by claiming he was a millionaire.

He fled the country on his release from Ford open prison, Sussex,
before being re-arrested over the art fraud.

In JUly 1991 he was arrested by the FBI in America and despite
extradition proceedings, voluntarily returned to Britain earlier this
year after months inside an American jail.

He also pleaded guilty to the handling charge after accepting he had
sold coins taken during a robbery of an American dealer at Heathrow.

Defending Fairchild, Mr Philip Singer said that his client was not
the mastermind of the scam but blamed daughter Nadia Fairchild and an
American, Henry Ross, as the brains behind the plot.

‘Those principally involved have not and will never be brought to
justice,’ said Mr Singer.

The court heard Ross, a Californian, with ‘fingers in many pies’ had
been given immunity from prosecution by both US and British
authorities investigating other criminal activity.

Mr Singer said Fairchild had honestly been involved in art dealing
for 25 years and was also a self made businessman – making himself a
millionaire through property dealing and a more adventurous salvaging
of sunken wrecks.

His fortune had been further enhanced through minting limited edition
medals, coins and the production of belt buckles, including a
contract with the United States department of defence.

But he faced ruin after beginning a project to develop an 18 acre
estate and mansion in Malibu.

Fairchild was to describe it as his ‘folly’.

The US dollar 10 million
project involved importing to the States shiploads of brick, mortar,
marble, various fittings including a valuable art collection, and a
five storey English windmill.

As the recession hit he attempted to open the ‘palace’ as a museum.

The lifebelt failed and massive loans were called in by the banks –
leading to Fairchild’s bankruptcy.

Mr Singer said his client’s main anxiety was now to rebuild his life
and quoted a social inquiry report that said Fairchild had the
character to ‘bounce back’ whatever his sentence.

Counsel said that in America Fairchild had been a ‘prominent member
of society’ and had been invited to social events with Presidents Reagan
and Bush.

Judge Cotran said his confidence in top auction rooms had slumped
after hearing they failed to spot fake artwork.

‘I must say my confidence in Sotheby’s has gone down a bit,’ he said.

But prosecuting Fairchild, Mr Lovell-Pank said it was a situation
that could work both ways.

‘Either you are very good at forgery,’ he said, ‘Or the auctioneers
are lax.

‘
He added: ‘I am glad I am not acting for Sotheby’s today.

‘
Discussing the purchase of a Rolls Royce embossed cigarette case,
purported to be the work of jeweller Tiffany’s, the judge said the
inclusion of the famous car firm’s stamp was not necessarily fraud.

But Mr Lovell-Pank replied that it was intended to boost the value to
collectors of a piece claimed to be by the jeweller but in fact made
in Finchley.

‘If you put Skoda on the front it probably would not sell quite as
well,’ he quipped.

ENDS