A man has appeared in court accused of taking almost £220,000 from a gas company in a fraud.

Credit controller Leon Brooks, aged 35, has pleaded guilty to conning Calor Gas out of tens of thousands of pounds.

But he claims that the amount he took over just six months was nearer £60,000.

Brooks is to face a hearing before a judge to determine the exact amount – unless prosecution and defence can agree on a figure.

Brooks, of Steer Point Road, Brixton near Plymouth, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between December 2015 and May 2016.

Brooks siphoned off tens of thousands from Calor Gas

He exploited his position as credit controller to cause Calor Gas a loss or expose the company to a risk of loss of £218,000.

Recorder Richard Shepherd told Brooks: “The prosecution say you were involved in stealing £220,000 from your employers.

“I know someone else was involved. You say, ‘No I was involved in stealing about £60,000 and I only got part of that’.”

He ordered prosecution and defence teams to exchange documents to see if they can agree the sum taken.

Plymouth Crown Court
The case was heard at Plymouth Crown Court

Ali Rafati, for Brooks, said that one of the issues was that “there were three other people in Calor Gas being investigated for fraud”.

The judge added that a two-day Newton hearing, a fact-finding hearing in front of a judge but no jury, might be needed to settle the case.

Brooks was released on unconditional bail until an interim hearing on July 30.

Get in touch using  news@plymouthherald.co.uk , call  01752 293100  or tweet  @Plymouth_Live

Want to read more?

To keep up to date with Plymouth Live's latest news, follow us on Facebook  here  and Twitter  here , or visit our homepage at  www.plymouthlive.com