QUIZ show cheat Charles Ingram was let off without a fine or community sentence after being found guilty of two charges of deception relating to a home contents insurance policy.

The Who Wants to be a Million-aire? contestant received a two year conditional discharge after being convicted of insurance fraud at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Judge Samuel Wiggs said the 41-year-old had already been severely punished as he was on the brink of bankruptcy.

The former Army major had denied obtaining a pecuniary advantage by getting insurance cover from first Zurich Municipal insurance company, and then Direct Line, by failing to tell them of his full claims history.

The jury found him not guilty on the Zurich insurance charge and four charges in connection with the claims he made, but convicted him in relation to the Direct Line policy and a claim of £30,000 following a burglary at his home.

Defence counsel Selva Ram-asamy said Ingram was unemployable since leaving the Army and money from TV appearances went to charity. He said the Ingrams were more than £400,000 in debt.

Sentencing Ingram on Friday Judge Wiggs said: "Although the previous proceedings cannot have any influence on sentencing for this case, I can't treat you as a man of good character.

"You are not in a position to pay a financial penalty and I note you are not prepared to take on free work in the community because you are concerned people might bully you. But you have very much punished yourself. I originally thought this case was too serious for a conditional discharge but it is the only realistic option left to the court."

No order for costs was made and the judge said Ingram's best course was to file for bankruptcy.