COMPANY director Andrew Wetherall who conned a top accountancy firm out of �545,000 to fund lifestyle requirements has been sent to jail. Wetherall, 49, of Christchurch Close, St Albans, admitted charges of false accounting and fraud last month and was se

COMPANY director Andrew Wetherall who conned a top accountancy firm out of �545,000 to fund lifestyle requirements has been sent to jail.

Wetherall, 49, of Christchurch Close, St Albans, admitted charges of false accounting and fraud last month and was sentenced to four years imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

He spent five years making false expense claims to bosses at KPMG so he could buy flash cars, designer watches, computer equipment and five-star holidays - even though he was already earning a six figure salary.

He later told police he could not cope with the "financial expectations" of his second wife who was used to spending at least �15,000 a month from her first marriage and did not want her lifestyle to suffer.

Samantha Hatt, prosecuting, said that Wetherall had taken advantage of his knowledge of the accounting firm's expenses policy and knew that if he claimed for less than �5,000 at a time no questions would be asked.

Wetherall, who told police that once he started stealing it became easier and easier and he became cavalier in his approach, has paid back the money and his wife is standing by him although she was not in court.

Frederick Ferguson, defending, said Wetherall accepted his actions were, "immature, inappropriate and there is no excuse for what he has done."

Wetherall stared straight ahead and nodded as Judge Gregory Stone said: "This is a very serious offence and I have to alternative but to sentence you to prison."

Describing it as a, "systematic, determined and premeditated fraud, "he said Wetherall had already paid a high price.

Judge Stone added: "Clearly you have damaged a glittering career and you have also damaged the thing that you were trying to protect - your lifestyle.