Father-of-two Edward Van Vessem, 32, formerly of Peach Tree Close, Fulwood, was jailed for one count of obtaining a £69,000 money transfer by deception and eight counts of fraud by misrepresentation, at Preston Crown Court.

In June 2007, officers from Blackburn police and Lancashire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime unit launched Operation Kestrel into a number of frauds against employment agencies throughout the country.

Van Vessem, a trained electrician who is originally from Blackburn, invented companies with a fake workforce and approached eight genuine payroll services to obtain credit facilities.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and, in another unsuccessful attempt, also tried to get £12,000.

The money was paid into five accounts which were in Van Vessem's name and he also recruited a small number of people who allowed money to be transferred into their accounts between August 2006 and September 2007.

Van Vessem maintained a lavish lifestyle, renting a riverside apartment in Liverpool and enjoying expensive champagne meals at fashionable city centre restaurants. He also bought vast quantities of designer clothes for himself and his female companions and treated one of them to short breaks in Amsterdam and Dubai, staying at five star hotels and showering her with lavish gifts.

This companion became so concerned about the money Van Vessem was spending she did an internet search on him and established, through an article headlined "The Lying Dutchman", he had allegedly been responsible for committing a large scale fraud previously and as a result she severed all contact with him.

He was arrested when he voluntarily attended Preston police station on Tuesday November 6 2007.
Nigel Power, defending Van Vessem, said: "He is a man who feels he is at a crossroads in his life. He's had a second daughter, born whilst he was in custody.
"His family must now take precedence. He's a man with talents for whom there is still much hope."

But on sentencing, Judge Christopher Cornwall said: "You deliberately deceived others for your own financial gain and must expect to be punished severely.
"You're a professional fraudster who coldly and determinedly planned to deceive others regardless of the harm that would be felt by the victims of your fraud."

Another five people pleaded guilty to money laundering - Thomas Maher, 30, of New Chapel Street, Blackburn was given a two year community order and an 18 month drug rehabilitation order.

Andrew Norman Smith, 32, of Angela Street, Blackburn was sentenced to eight months in prison which was suspended for 18 months and was also given an 18 month supervision and drug rehabilitation order.

Donna Hope, 32, of St Aidens Avenue, Blackburn was given an 18 month community order and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Lorraine Flynn, 31, of New Wellington Street, Blackburn was given an 18 month community order and an 18 month supervision and drug rehabilitation order.

Jacqueline Grahams, 31, of Ferryhill Road, Irlam, Manchester will be sentenced on November 13 2008.