Simon Denlow attracted clients from the construction industry by claiming his company boasted offices in Singapore, London and Ireland.

But in reality he was a "one-man band" who worked out of a single room above a hairdressers in Boston, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Denlow, 49, managed to take more than £200,000 from unsuspecting customers by offering firms cheap employer liability and all-risk policies by his firm.

But Jon Dee, prosecuting, said much of the cover was never provided - and Denlow used the cash to indulge his passion for high-class vehicles.

Mr Dee said: "He received a cheque for in excess of £100,000 to provide a policy. In fact, cover of only £20,000 was provided.
"On the same day he purchased a brand-new Range Rover worth more than £50,000 and some private plates to go with it."

The court heard that within months Denlow also treated himself to an £800 watch and a £14,400 second-hand Jaguar XJ8.

Mr Dee said he even put down a deposit on a £35,000 Audi as his scam unravelled, adding: "The money was used to finance high living."

Brochures used to attract customers claimed Denlow's company, CSBL Brokering Ltd, had partners with more than 100 years of experience.

It also boasted of links to Lloyds of London, but Mr Dee said: "None of this was true. It was a one-man band operating from a room in Boston."

All the money received by the business went straight into Denlow's account, allowing him to splash out on gym membership and other luxuries.

When interviewed he claimed he had been cheated by his business partners, but inquiries showed no-one else was even involved in the firm.

Mr Dee said the conman simply made up the names of those he attempted to implicate, adding: "He told the police a pack of repeated lies."

Denlow, of The Angel, Kings Land, Herefordshire, admitted seven charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception and four of converting criminal property.

He also pleaded guilty to carrying on a business for a fraudulent purpose and a single charge of theft, all between May 1 and December 31, 2003.

Judge Michale Heath who also disqualified Denlow from being a company director for 10 years, told him:"Your conduct was dishonest and despicable.

"Those who paid over considerable sums to you believed they were covered in the notoriously dangerous construction industry but in fact they were not covered."

John Lloyd Jones, defending, described Delow as a "Walter Mitty character" who did not set out to operate a fraudulent system.
"He was a man of big and grand ideas. In reality he hadn't thought the business plan through. He did not have either the acumen or the experience to make this work.
"He operated under his own name and from his home address. That is not the hallmark of a professional and sophisticate fraudster.
"The business ran into trouble quite quickly and rather than cease trading and repay the premiums he carried on hoping, unrealistically, that everything would be alright.
"Mercifully none of the clients needed to claim during the period in which they were uninsured."