A council employee who secretly held several jobs has been jailed for three years after defrauding local authorities out of more than £236,000.
Bryn Howells, 66, from Ebley, Stroud, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court after being found guilty in July of multiple counts of fraud.
The former housing and property officer worked simultaneously at Tewkesbury Borough Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and Publica Group, while also taking on an additional council role through an agency.
Howells submitted false timesheets and failed to declare his overlapping positions, allowing him to ‘make hay while the sun shined,’ Judge Malcolm Gibbney reportedly said.
His activities were uncovered by the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit during a payroll data check through the National Fraud Initiative.
Despite Howells claiming his actions were unintentional, the judge dismissed his defence, stressing the dishonesty and breach of trust. Authorities are now seeking to recover the funds.
