THE NatWest Three, the trio of bankers accused in America of fraud linked to the Enron scandal, have started negotiations over a possible plea bargain under which they would admit some charges in return for others being dropped, according to legal sources.

The three men, Giles Darby, David Bermingham and Gary Mulgrew, have consistently protested their innocence and last year fought a high-profile but unsuccessful campaign to avoid extradition to America.

But now, they are understood to be weighing up the idea of a plea bargain – even though they are almost certain to face imprisonment.

The trio are thought to be close to conceding that if they try to fight their case to the bitter end, they are unlikely to win.

Their trial has been repeatedly postponed. It is now due to open in January.

If they are convicted on all charges, the men could in theory face as long as 35 years behind bars.

But if they admit certain specimen charges, their supporters hope the three might serve as little as a year.

They would be likely to ask that part of any sentence should be served in a British jail.

The failure of the NatWest Three to persuade ex-colleag-ues to travel to America to testify has hampered their defence.

Discussions between the three and prosecutors at the US Department of Justice are still at an early stage, insiders say.

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