MBE conman is stripped of honour

Michael Eke received the honour from the Queen in 2003

A jailed ex-police worker who conned his way to an MBE has been stripped of the honour by the Queen.

Michael Eke, 38, of March, Cambridgeshire, was jailed for 18 months for theft and deception in October this year.

Norwich Crown Court heard he had pocketed thousands of pounds in lottery grants given for events for young people that never happened.

He had been presented with the MBE for "services to the community".

Following the trial, Judge Paul Downes said Eke had gone to "ridiculous lengths" and had "acted shamelessly" to get what he wanted.

He sentenced him to 18 months in prison on each of the 14 charges of theft and deception to run concurrently and ordered that he served nine months also running concurrently for forging his MBE application.

Eke had carried out an elaborate plan to get himself on the honours list and get an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2003.

In a little over four years, Eke obtained £66,000 by a number of sophisticated deceptions.