Council officials stole £200,000

John Maddox and Mark Joyce were jailed for deception

Two council officials who set up a bogus firm to steal £203,000 from their employer have each been jailed for two-and-a-half years for deception.

Jonathan Maddox, enforcement manager at Luton's environment department, made headlines for prosecuting a woman for throwing a snack crisp from her car.

He and Mark Joyce sent false invoices to the council.

They spent the money on luxuries, holidays and a football hospitality box, Luton Crown Court was told.

Both well paid

Maddox had been earmarked for a top job with the council, prosecutor Natalie Carter said.

The fraud went on for over two years and would no doubt have been going on today if you had not been found out Judge Richard Foster

He had attracted interest when one of his officials carrying out a "clean-up Luton campaign" gave a local woman a £75 fixed penalty notice when she threw a Wotsit crisp out of her car.

It took an suspicious auditor two months to find evidence fraud was taking place, said the prosecutor.

That evidence came when a woman deputising for Maddox while he was on holiday in July last year noticed a VAT number was missing from one of the company's invoices.

When the two men were interviewed by police they made admissions and assisted with the investigation.

Maddox, 37, from Wake Way, Northampton, and Joyce, 43, of Edgcott Close, Luton, both pleaded guilty to 10 charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception and 10 of furnishing false information.

Both also asked for 46 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

It was an isolated case that was dealt with promptly and properly Hazel Simmons, council leader

Judge Richard Foster said: "You were public servants in well paid and secure jobs and greed took over.

"The fraud went on for over two years and would no doubt have been going on today if you had not been found out.

"But your lives of promise and achievement have ended up today with you going down the steps into custody."

In a statement Luton Borough Council said its strict anti-fraud and corruption policy led to the employees being dismissed following an internal investigation by its internal audit team working alongside the police.

"Civil action is under way to recover the lost money and it is anticipated that most of it will be recovered."

Hazel Simmons, leader of the council, said: "We have a zero tolerance policy on fraud.

"The council and the public expect all our officers to be honest and reliable. If fraud is found, it will always be investigated and action taken.

"I would like to stress that this case is an exception to the normal excellent standards we receive from our street services management.

"It was an isolated case that was dealt with promptly and properly."