The brothers behind a failed Lapland theme park have been released from jail less than four months into their sentences.

Henry and Victor Mears are both on home-tagged curfew despite being sentenced to 13 months in prison in March.

The pair were found guilty after a three-month trial at Bristol Crown Court on eight charges of using misleading advertising.

People travelled from as far as west Wales, the Midlands and the south-east to visit the brothers’ theme park in the New Forest and paid up to £30 for entry.

But when they arrived the park was far from being a winter wonderland.

The revelation that the pair were sitting out the rest of their sentences in the comfort of their Brighton homes was revealed during Henry Mears’ contempt of court trial yesterday.

The court was told that the brothers were both released from prison last month on home-tagged curfew.

Families who spent hundreds of pounds on trips to the theme park in Hampshire, which was forced to close in 2008, reacted angrily to the news yesterday. Jan Killick, 53, of Bodiam Avenue, Bevendean, Brighton, whose family bought tickets wor th £200, said: “It’s a waste of time going to court. What they are saying is the law is an ass and they can do what they want.

“Three months is no time at all, that is not justice.

“They didn’t rob the parents, they robbed the children who thought they were going to see Father Christmas but got nothing.”

Peter Bundock, 62, of Braeside Avenue, Brighton, who spent £125 on tickets for his family and received no refund, said: “They have got away scot free.

“Three months jail time is not enough. In my opinion they should have got two to three years.

“It’s not just the amount of money but the amount of people they ripped off.”

Yesterday The Argus approached Victor Mears at his home in Selsfield Drive, Brighton.

He refused to open his doors to us and refused to answer questions about his brother’s contempt of court case or the families who had suffered at his expense.

The Ministry of Justice failed to comment despite being contacted by The Argus.