Chelmsford Crown Court heard earlier how Neal had used “creative accounting” to wipe out a £10 million budget deficit, according to The Times.

He exaggerated valuations and profits made on the sale of redundant hospital land and property in 2005/06 to take the credit for a £1 million surplus, as demanded by the Department of Health and the Essex Strategic Health Authority.

Neal, 44, who was made director of finance at the NHS Trust, received a performance-related bonus of £2,500 before auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers raised the alarm.

He had blamed the pressure resulting from government targets for the NHS in his defence.

Neal was found guilty in September 2007 and sentenced to 12 months in prison on 26 March 2008. 

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Related links 

• HM Courts Service
• Mid Essex Hospital Services
• NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service