A FRAUDSTER who submitted fake time sheets and conned one of his former employers out of more than £76,000 has been warned he faces a lengthy jail term.

Over nine months, Antonio Rodrigues claimed £76,469.70 from Coyle Personnel by fraudulently filling in time sheets for the company’s payroll department.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Rodrigues, of Primrose Walk, Colchester, admitted one charge of false representation.

Kathy Wilson, prosecuting, told the court that between July 31, 2017, and 23 April, 2018, the 32-year-old had submitted the time sheets despite no longer being employed as a contractor through the recruitment firm.

She said: “I submit the case should be committed to for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court.

“The fraud was committed over a not insignificant period of time.

“It relates to a breach of trust in respect that the defendant had been submitting timesheets to the company himself correctly in the past.

“There was trust placed in him as they would allow him to submit them.

“He was forging the time sheets after his contract with a firm had finished.

“He claimed a considerable amount of money in total as well.

“I suggest this offence has a starting point of three years in custody.”

Lucy Osborn, mitigating, asked the court to order a pre-sentence report to be compiled before sentencing took place.

She said: “The defendant has no previous convictions in this case.”

Magistrates declined jurisdiction over the case.

Rodrigues will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, February 26.

He was released on unconditional bail.

Coyle Personnel is an independent recruitment firm based in Harrow, Middlesex.