A financial adviser who conned elderly clients into handing over huge sums of money has been sentenced.

James Robert McPhail, of Hillmont Road, Esher, convinced long-term clients to make out cheques to him with a combined value of £468,000, by promising to safely invest their funds.

However, between February and December 2009 McPhail was actually paying their money directly into his business account to support one of his struggling companies.

In February 2009 the 40-year-old convinced a woman in her 50s, from Surbiton, to write a cheque to his company for more than £14,000 and falsely told her she could reclaim the money at any point.

He defrauded six individuals or couples during 2009, including three retired couples and a retired woman in her 70s.

After pleading guilty to five charges of fraud, McPhail was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on July 21, to six years and six months imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Debbie Crouch said: “This court hearing was the culmination of a long and complex investigation by Surrey Police officers but at its heart was an appalling betrayal of trust by a man acting entirely for selfish reasons.

“He ruthlessly abused the generosity and trust of his clients over a substantial period of time by defrauding them of their savings and investments for his own gain.”

Police are now pursuing the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act.