HE owner of the controversial Lapland New Forest is as a convicted fraudster who served time in jail for tax evasion.

Victor Mears, 65, who owns the park run by his brother Henry Mears, was sentenced to three years in jail in 1986 after admitting failing to pay £500,000 in VAT.

At the time he was serving a four-year sentence for tax evasion.

Victor Mears is well-known in Brighton as one of the city's most colourful characters.

He is part of the large Mears family, heavily involved in the city's markets and a clan which includes Brighton and Hove City Council leader, Mary Mears.

Mr Mears, born in 1943, ran a fruit and veg stall in Western Road after making money dealing gold bullion and antiques - a career which earned him the nickname Mr Gold.

When the authorities caught up with him he claimed he had put £1million aside for tax but that it was stolen in a burglary.

Yesterday it was claimed that Mears began organising the theme park earlier this year with his brother Henry, who runs a fruit and veg stall.

A source close to the brothers, based in Brighton, said that with ticket prices of £30 and up to 50,000 advance bookings online, they expected to make £2million over the festive period.

'They kept saying, "We'll just stick a few things in the field, make it look nice from the outside and then make a load of money".'

The source said of the pair: 'They are a bit like Del Boy but without the nice side.

Yesterday, reporters called for the second day in a row at a flat in Selsfield Drive listed by Companies House as Victor Mears' home but no one would answer the door.

Then journalists called at Unit 1, Wildpark House, Home Farm Road, where Companies House lists Lapland New Forest Ltd as being run from.

But staff there said they had no idea where Mr Mears was. One man said Mr Mears had been ill recently and just come out of hospital.

Henry Mears, believed to be Victor's brother, has been the public face of Lapland New Forest, dealing with advertising and contact from the media.

Lapland New Forest has received more than 2,000 complaints since it opened on the weekend. Frederick Nash, a director of Matchams South Coast Ltd, which leases the land in the New Forest from freeholder Eaglebeam, said he was surprised by the park but that there was nothing his company could do. He said: "We have taken legal advice but we can't do anything because they have rented the land until January 15."

He added: "There is not a snowball's chance in hell that these people will be allowed to come back here next year."

Cllr Mary Mears was unavailable for comment but a council statement said: "There is no business connection between Cllr Mears and these distant relatives and Cllr Mears has no involvement in the New Forest operation."