A Gloucestershire man has been convicted of fraud after working four jobs across multiple councils at the same time.
Bryn Howells, from Ebley in Stroud, took home over £230,000 of taxpayer cash over a 16-month period.
He was this week found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court of defrauding multiple local authorities between February 2022 and June 2023.
He held positions at Tewkesbury Borough Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Publica Group, which provides services for three district councils - all at the same time.
Howells is now facing a sentencing date of August 28 for what his employers have characterised as a significant violation of public trust.
TEWKESBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL
|Howells held jobs at Tewkesbury Borough Council (pictured) South Gloucestershire Council and Publica Group at the same time
The fraudster failed to declare his existing work when took up new jobs, and submitted fraudulent timesheets to his employers.
He simultaneously worked as a:
- Strategic housing and enabling officer;
- Senior development surveyor;
- Valuer and estates surveyor.
A fourth council role he started through an agency around the same time was not included in the case.
The court heard that Howells took home a salary and benefits worth £236,000 through his deception.
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PA
|The court heard that Howells scooped up £236,000 in taxpayer cash
One employer described his actions as a "serious breach of trust and misuse of public funds" ahead of his sentencing next month.
Howells told the court he had not intended to deceive and was not motivated by greed or money.
He claimed he wanted to "work as many hours as possible" to support local authorities facing skilled staff shortages.
The defendant said any failure to declare his employment to each council was an "unintentional oversight" and maintained that timesheets reflected hours he made himself "available" for work.
However, the council's barrister argued that Howells' actions were "nothing short of dishonest".
The prosecution contended that had Howells disclosed his plans to maintain full-time employment elsewhere, he would not have been hired by any of the councils.
The fraud was discovered following a review of payroll data by Tewkesbury Borough Council's counter-fraud team.
Simon Dix, the authority's executive director of resources, said: "We are deeply disappointed by Howells' actions, which fell far short of the standards expected of public servants."
"By receiving four publicly funded salaries and benefits, Howells' conduct was wholly dishonest and represents a serious breach of trust and misuse of public funds."
The council confirmed it maintains a "zero-tolerance approach to fraud" and has reviewed internal procedures to prevent similar incidents.
The councils are pursuing the recovery of the salary, pension contributions and National Insurance contributions obtained through Howells' dishonesty.