A managing director convicted of fraud and corruption is facing six years in jail unless he can pay back £1.9m in six months. Peter Sale, 51, of Forest Drive in Tadworth, former managing director of Sale Service and Maintenance Ltd, pleaded guilty in April last year following a three-year investigation by the British Transport Police economic crime unit (ECU).

From 2006, Sale made payments to personal friend Anthony Burgess, the corporate offices manager at Network Rail, with the managing director's company subsequently being used on a number of Network Rail projects.

The investigation revealed Sale had made a payment of £6,700 to Burgess via a company account, fitted a de-humidifier in his garage and provided him with bathroom accessories and hotel accommodation.

In return, Burgess disclosed confidential information during a tendering process.

He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, February 28 and was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to do 400 hours unpaid work and pay costs.

He must now pay back £1.9m within six months or face six years in prison.

ECU Detective Constable Justin Yorke said: "This was part of a complex corruption investigation involving six suspects and we were greatly helped by Network Rail’s own internal investigators. This type of offence by-passes the procurement system and has a negative impact on legitimate companies. Hopefully, the high value of this order will act as a deterrent to others."