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| Jail for lottery theft MBE conman | Jail for lottery theft MBE conman |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An ex-police worker who conned his way to an MBE has been sentenced to 18 months prison for theft and deception. | An ex-police worker who conned his way to an MBE has been sentenced to 18 months prison for theft and deception. |
| Michael Eke, 38, of March, Cambs, won an MBE, that he sent back, for services to the community. | |
| Norwich Crown Court heard he had pocketed thousands of pounds in lottery grants given for events for young people that never happened. | |
| Judge Paul Downes said he had gone to "ridiculous lengths" and had "acted shamelessly" to get what he wanted. | Judge Paul Downes said he had gone to "ridiculous lengths" and had "acted shamelessly" to get what he wanted. |
| He sentenced him to 18 months in prison on each of the 14 charges of theft and deception to run concurrently and ordered that he served nine months also running concurrently for forging his MBE application. | He sentenced him to 18 months in prison on each of the 14 charges of theft and deception to run concurrently and ordered that he served nine months also running concurrently for forging his MBE application. |
| Eke had carried out an elaborate plan to get himself on the honours list and get an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2003. | Eke had carried out an elaborate plan to get himself on the honours list and get an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2003. |
| Disowned by family | Disowned by family |
| In a little over four years, Eke obtained £66,000 by a number of sophisticated deceptions. | In a little over four years, Eke obtained £66,000 by a number of sophisticated deceptions. |
| He also sold computers, cameras and other electrical goods taken from Cambridgeshire Police and the March Air Training Corps where he was squadron leader. | He also sold computers, cameras and other electrical goods taken from Cambridgeshire Police and the March Air Training Corps where he was squadron leader. |
| Speaking after the case the father of two's sister, Beryl Hudson, 47, said: "Eighteen months is not long enough, as far as I'm concerned he's disowned." | Speaking after the case the father of two's sister, Beryl Hudson, 47, said: "Eighteen months is not long enough, as far as I'm concerned he's disowned." |
| Prosecutor Sam Maines said: "He was just the sort of person who would have been honoured but he decided to speed up that process through forgery and deception." | Prosecutor Sam Maines said: "He was just the sort of person who would have been honoured but he decided to speed up that process through forgery and deception." |
| Guy Ayres, defending, said: "There were long periods of time when he was doing a great deal of good for March and the surrounding area. | Guy Ayres, defending, said: "There were long periods of time when he was doing a great deal of good for March and the surrounding area. |
| "His fall from grace is clear and the defendant has returned his award so this is not someone who is going to be stripped of it." | "His fall from grace is clear and the defendant has returned his award so this is not someone who is going to be stripped of it." |