TWO men, one from Bolton, who ran a fraudulent telesales business from city centre offices have been given suspended jail sentences at Manchester Crown Court.

Director Gary Callaghan, aged 32, and Ian Bates, aged 40, who shared his office, were given 12 and nine-month jail terms, suspended for two years.

A third man, business manager Peter Kemp, aged 37, who trained staff, of Gorsehall Road, Dukinfield, did not appear for sentence and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

They had all admitted conspiracy to defraud in relation to payments for crime prevention advertising between August 1998 and October 1999.

The operation was headed by Bates, of Blackburn Road, Egerton, and Callaghan, of Wildbank Close, Mottram Rise, Stalybridge.

Judge Anthony Hammond told Bates and Callaghan they had been principals in the running of two firms in Fairfield Street, Manchester.

Initially what was produced was of poor quality. It was not approved of by police or any crime prevention unit, as had been suggested.

"People were persuaded to part with money for adverts and to define your actual roles in 1999 is difficult," the judge said.

"You now run legitimate businesses, but the unsavoury and reprehensible way in which this venture was carried on was fraudulent, which you accept.

Anthony Russell, QC, prosecuting, said Bates had received £26,087 and Callaghan £20,427.

The judge ordered these sums should be confiscated and must be paid within six months. In default, each man will serve 12 months' imprisonment.

Earlier, Mr Russell said staff used a cold calling technique to persuade firms and individuals to buy advertising space in planned crime prevention booklets. The impression was given the business was involved with or had the support of the police, which was untrue.

It was the Crown's case the activities of the men were dishonest and fraudulent because of their business methods.