A fraudster who swindled thousands of pounds from the National Film and Television School after masquerading as a qualified accountant has pleaded guilty to a series of crimes.

Former film school finance manager, Harvey Pearce, conned the Beaconsfield company out of £24,000 after being hired in 2010.

The 49-year-old from Didcot managed to keep his job for more than three years, despite not being qualified, until colleagues raised concerns about his work, leading to his sacking in September 2013.

After his departure from the Candlemas Lane-based school, an internal investigation revealed a series of his fraudulent crimes, including purchasing two iPads on the school account.

Pearce had also paid himself expenses totaling almost £15,000, had used his school credit card to pay for personal items and union membership, and overpaid himself more than £4,000 and had not deducted pension contributions from his salary.

In 2014, he then applied for a job as finance manager at Diamond Light Source in Didcot.

He again falsely represented that he was a qualified accountant, and worked at the company from June 2014 until the time of his arrest in September 2014.

Pearce pleaded guilty last week to earning almost £155k after obtaining both jobs by false representation and to obtaining more than £24k from the National Film and Television School by fraud and theft.

Investigating officer, Det Con Katie Taylor of the Economic Crime Unit said: “This investigation uncovered deceit and fraud against two local employers.

“Harvey Pearce lied to obtain positions with them. He then betrayed the trust placed in him and abused his position to benefit himself.

“This has been a long and complex investigation and I trust that the conviction not only reassures our communities but also sends a message out that crime will not pay in the Thames Valley.”

Pearce is set to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on June 7.