Michael Black, from Somerset, was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison at Bristol Crown Court last week for stealing a total of £1.2m from his employers between 2010-19. Black also received a company director disqualification lasting 12 years.

Black was a company finance officer at three different businesses between 2010-19 with the police investigation finding that there were 400 occasions where he abused his position and transferred money from the company’s account to his own.

The court heard that Black disguised the transfers, so they looked as if they were worked related so that they did not appear to be going directly to him.