A Surbiton man has been jailed for three years for stealing more than £155,000 from the BBC.

Lee Richardson, 52, of Alexander Drive, created invoices for work that had never been carried out.

An BBC financial audit investigation in 2015 found the fraud was committed by a formal employee.

The company reported Richardson to Action Fraud and Met’s Fraud and Linked Crime Online (FALCON) command launched a criminal investigation.

The fraudster, who was employed with the BBC between 2006 and 2011, was promoted to a role in 2009 which involved awarding contracts to organisations for work on the BBC estate.

Shortly after his promotion, he created a company called Sentinal Services, which listed him as the director. He began giving work to his own firm, ignoring the proper tender process.

The investigation into the Sentinal Services' accounts found no contractors or employees were paid, or contracted, for any services and so were determined to have never happened.

Sentinal Services invoiced the BBC on 12 occasions for works that had not been carried out to the value of £155,451.68.

Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position on April 19 at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.

He paid back the full amount he had stolen from the BBC.

On Tuesday, July 18, Richardson was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to three years' imprisonment.

Detective Constable Andy Chapman, who led the investigation, said: “Richardson knowingly and intentionally took public money to support his lifestyle of cars and a number of family holidays.

"The length of the sentence Richardson has received reflects the high value of the fraud and the fact that the money was taken from the BBC, a broadcaster funded by the public."