Asil Nadir convicted of three counts of theft He returned to Britain in 2010 vowing to clear his name, spurred on by what he described as a "burning sense of injustice." But his gamble appeared to have backfired today as he was left facing the prospect of a lengthy prison term. Nadir, whose 28-year-old wife Nur accompanied him to court, looked shocked as the jury returned its guilty verdicts. At its height Nadir's Polly Peck International business empire was worth around £1.7 billion, boasting interests ranging from textiles and electronics to tinned fruit and packaging. The company, which employed some 17,000 people, was listed on the FTSE 100 and enjoyed a period of booming profit. But claims that Nadir had been transferring money to subsidiaries in Turkey and Northern Cyprus led the Serious Fraud Office to raid the offices of the company that controlled the Nadir family interests. The company's share price fell through the floor and Polly Peck collapsed with debts of £1.3 billion. When Nadir returned to Britain from his self imposed exile in Cyprus, prosecutors charged him with 13 counts relating to the theft of £33 million. But the jury were told that those were specimen charges and the overall figure was nearer to £146 million. It was alleged that the money was used by Nadir to pay his tax bill, buy gifts for himself and his family and also to buy shares in his own company in order to prop up the stock market price. Today the jury, which has been reduced to ten from the original 12 and has lost an estimated five weeks due to illness, delivered a majority verdict on four of the 13 charges. Nadir was cleared of one count related to £2.5 million which it was alleged he had used to pay his income tax bill. But he was convicted on three charges involving sums of almost £6 million. On one count he was found guilty of stealing £1.3 million and using the money to secretly buy Polly Peck shares in order to bolster the Stock Exchange price. Philip Shears QC, prosecuting, told the jury that a number of offshore companies were used by Nadir to carry out the covert purchase of Polly Peck International shares and options. A "primary purpose" was to bolster the company's share price which "enhanced the appearance of PPI as a successful company," he told the court. Nadir was also found guilty of stealing £1 million which was spent on antiques and a further £3.25 million which went on 19 different destinations. The jury will continue its deliberations on the outstanding charges tomorrow.