A "COMMITTED fraudster" was yesterday jailed for two years for a series of offences - including trying to win a £2.5 million grant from the Welsh European Fund office.

Timothy Worel, 44, of Lawrence Avenue, Abertillery, claimed he had a string of professional qualifications but in fact all were bogus, prosecutor Leighton Hughes told Cardiff crown court.

Worel had previously pleaded guilty at Caerphilly magistrates court to four charges of making false statements, attempting to obtain the funding grant by deception, obtaining a pecuniary advantage and attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception.

Judge Gerald Price told Worel, who had previous convictions including forging a cheque belonging to his grandmother and for wounding, that these were brazen crimes, boldly executed with much pre-meditation and preparation.

Mr Hughes said Worel ran a company called the Accounts Team, based in Brynmawr, and passed himself off as a qualified accountant.

Blaenau Gwent trading standards, led by John Prince, began an investigation into him when Worel duped a man into providing services for nothing.

It became clear, said Mr Hughes, that Worel was a committed, experienced fraudster and conman.

Mr Prince explained Worel claimed to have offices in Liverpool, Brynmawr and Haverfordwest and that he had several business qualifications plus a BSc degree from the Open University.

Mr Hughes said he tried to charge one couple £800 for accountancy services. But they were not taken in.

As part of the investigation a trading standards officer approached him purporting to start a business and he agreed to provide a business plan.

In August 2004 he approached the Welsh European Fund office for a £2.5 million grant.

He claimed to be an accountant and said his project - centred around internet technology and accountancy services - would cost £6 million.

It failed, said Mr Hughes, because it did not reach the technical approval stage.

Trading standards officers had difficulty contacting him but he was eventually arrested at his council home in Abertillery. He gave a false date of birth, while admitting he did not have the qualifications he had stated.

Worel was bailed and in the meantime received a two-month prison sentence in Liverpool for failing to attend court.

He returned to South Wales on bail and last July submitted a CV to a recruitment company for a post of auditor, failing to disclose he was on bail. When interviewed, he gave bogus qualifications.

Following that he failed to appear before Abertillery magistrates on five occasions and was eventually arrested collecting his DSS giro cheque.

His counsel, Tracey Lloyd-Escott, said: "He has had experience in the accountancy field and believed he was qualified by this experience."

She said he often gave people good advice. Regarding the grant application she said it was detailed with a business plan and Worel had not needed to lie about his qualifications.