A FRAUDSTER who cheated New College out of government funding for training and apprenticeships was ordered today to repay the full £44,949 that he swindled.

At Gloucester Crown Court Leonard Hay, of Cochran close, Churchdown, accepted that was the amount by which he benefited from his crime - and that he has sufficient assets for the full amount to be confiscated from him.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC certified the figures and made an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He told Hay the money must be paid within 28 days.

In May this year, Hay, a father of two and former RAF officer, pleaded guilty to defrauding New College, Swindon of the money.

Hay was the manager of his own one-man company, Update, Training and Vocational Services (UTVS), based in Churchdown at his home address.

The Swindon college was funded by the Skills Funding Agency and it passed on 70 percent of the funding to Hay's company, which was contracted to provide vocational apprenticeships and training programmes through the Federation for Industry Sector Skills and Standards to some 124 students.

Achievement certificates were issued to 44 students between May 28, 2013 and June 16, 2014.

But the director of NCS Anna Fitch realised that the certificates were forgeries and she contacted the police.

The 44 students had not completed their apprenticeships and Hay had pocketed the funding.