A BECKENHAM man has been ordered to pay £270,000 for pretending to be a doctor for almost 10 years.

Conrad De Souza, of Whitmore Road, in Beckenham, was jailed for 27 months in October last year for pretending he was a qualified doctor which enabled him to work in highly-paid strategic roles for Lewisham Primary Care Trust (PCT) between 2001 and 2010.

De Souza, aged 54, received more than £329,000 of NHS money in fraudulently obtained earnings and it was decided during the hearing at Croydon Crown Court on December 5 he should pay back £270,000.

In the roles he achieved while employed at the PCT it was essential for applicants to have a degree and clinical specialisms - however he had neither.  

NHS Protect anti fraud specialist David Horsley said: “As a result of his deception Mr De Souza has not only served a substantial prison sentence for his crimes but has also been ordered to pay £270,000.

“The confiscation order of £270,000 should serve as a warning to anyone tempted to defraud the NHS that, wherever appropriate, NHS Protect will not only seek criminal, civil and disciplinary sanctions but will press for the recovery of any lost NHS funds.”