AN ISLE of Wight man employed by the Ministry of Defence, who abused his position of trust by cheating a war veteran out of his pension, has been jailed.

Michael Alan Wilson, of Harvey Road, Newport, appeared before a judge at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday (December 10).

At a previous hearing back in October, the 34-year-old admitted committing fraud by making false representation to employers, Veterans UK, by claiming he was Frederick Lucy, to change war pension payment details into his own bank account.

His victim, a war veteran, was defrauded of £2,167.20, between August 13 and September 23, 2019.

Wilson also admitted perverting the course of justice on August 28 last year, by making a false statement to the police, falsely implicating his friend, Marcus Olivier, for committing the fraud.

Wilson had denied the offences right up to the eve of his trial.

When he was challenged about the fraud in his police interview, Wilson cast all blame on Mr Olivier, said prosecutor, Tim Moores, last month.

As a result of that allegation, Mr Olivier was interviewed as a fraud suspect.

Mr Olivier and detectives listened to telephone calls from Veterans UK, which is part of the MOD acting as a dedicated support organisation for service personnel, veterans and their families.

Mr Olivier was able to identify Wilson's voice on one of the recordings, which subsequently proved his guilt.

Read more: Ministry of Defence employee embezzled war veteran of pension

For Wilson, Laura Deuxberry said her client agreed with the financial arrangement.

The judge, Tim Mousley, had ordered a report on Wilson, and warned him that perverting the course of justice alone was regarded as so serious, it could result in his immediate imprisonment.

Appearing before a judge again on Friday, Wilson was imprisoned for 18 months, and ordered to pay £2,167.10 compensation to the Veterans UK section of the ministry of defence.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £532.90.