LAKEMAN was “trusted, respected and utterly convincing” while finance administrator for the Broad Town Trust between 1996 and 2012.

Yet the court heard he wrote hundreds of cheques out to 'cash' or to himself during his time in office, forging signatures and minutes of trust meetings to cover his tracks.

He told directors he had paid the money to young people who had successfully applied for the charity's help.

But throughout the period from 2002 to 2012, police only discovered one legitimate beneficiary who received a donation from the charity, with all of the rest of the money going directly to Lakeman.

He even fabricated progress reports on young people, duping the charity into thinking it was supporting training and opportunities for many youngsters.

His crimes only came to light when the charity ceased to operate.

Lakeman retired and a new administrator went through the books and discovered the deception.

In June 2013, the suspected theft was reported to the complex fraud team at Wiltshire Police.

Lakeman was arrested in July 2013 on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, money laundering and theft. He was later charged with ten counts of theft and admitted he had been systematically stealing from the trust for a decade.

At later legal hearings he claimed he was being blackmailed. Wiltshire Police carried out a separate blackmail investigation, but no criminal charges were brought against the alleged blackmailerBAC.

DC Chris Tollervey, of the complex fraud team, led the investigation.

He said: “John Lakeman was trusted and respected by many people and held positions of responsibility.

“He repaid this trust with deceit and lies. He presented himself as a professional man and was described as 'utterly convincing'.

“The truth came as a shock to the trustees who had previously had complete faith in Lakeman and no reason to doubt his integrity.

“To this day John Lakeman has not offered to repay any of the money that he stole back to the Broad Town Trust.

“Lakeman not only deceived the trustees, he deliberately prevented young people who were in need of financial help from receiving that assistance.”

Salisbury Journal:

Lakeman ahead of the 1974 election where he stood for the Liberal party

Lakeman was also involved with fundraising for Salisbury Hospice for 20 years, up to 2011.

He became involved with the hospice when it was set up in 1981 and took over as fundraising coordinator in 1997.

Chairman of Salisbury Hospice Charity Ceri Hurford-Jones said: “Salisbury Hospice Charity has suffered no financial loss as a result of Mr Lakeman's employment with us.

“The Charity Commission and our auditors are satisfied this is the case.”