Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir has finally been convicted of a multi-million pound theft nearly 20 years after he fled the UK to his native northern Cyprus in 1993 to escape justice.

The disgraced 71-year-old former Conservative Party donor was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Monday of three specimen charges of theft from Polly Peck International - a conglomerate dealing in fruit, leisure, textiles and electronics - between 1987 and 1990. He was cleared on a fourth count.

The jury delivered its guilty verdicts following the eight-month trial of Nadir over the disappearance of £34 m from the business. Prosecutors said the total amount was nearer £146 m.

The guilty verdicts were delivered after the jury were directed that they could return verdicts of nine to one.

Nadir was found guilty of stealing £1.3m to covertly purchase Polly Peck shares to boost its Stock Exchange price. He was also found guilty of stealing £1m spent on antiques and £3.25m which went to 19 different destinations.

But he was cleared of a fourth count of stealing £2.5m and using it to pay his income tax bill.

Nadir, of Mayfair, returned voluntarily to the UK in 2010. He told the court he left because he was 'a broken man without hope' and complained about the Serious Fraud Office investigation.

In 2003, three accountants who were involved in auditing parts of Polly Peck were reprimanded and fined by their industry regulator.

The accountancy trio were all partners of Erdal & Co, based in Northern Cyprus, which audited the accounts of Polly Peck subsidiaries during the period of the offences in 1988 and 1989.