A LORD accused of selling a fake L S Lowry painting was today found guilty of fraud.

At Chester Crown Court, Lord Maurice Taylor, aged 60, was convicted by a jury of six men and six women, who spent five hours deliberating their verdicts.

Lord Taylor of Kermincham, near Congleton, who bought his title for £1,000, was found guilty of trying to sell the Lowry-style mill street scene to two art dealers and an auctioneer.

Taylor denied he knew the painting wasn't an original when he sold it to David Smith for £330,000.

Taylor was found not guilty of forging an invoice relating to the sale of the painting.

Sentencing has been adjourned by Judge Roger Dutton until March 20.

For more on this story, see The Sentinel tomorrow.