A DISGRACED former council official who got businessmen mates to invoice his authority for work which was never carried out is starting an 18-month jail sentence.

Michael Skirving, 50, was told by a judge yesterday that his “systematic” fraud was on a large scale and had effectively robbed taxpayers in Darlington of more than £100,000.

Hartlepool businessmen Martin Dougherty, 45, the boss of a roofing firm, and print and design company owner James Burns, 43, were also jailed for 12 and six months respectively for their parts in the scam.

Skirving, of Grange Road, Hartlepool, who was the head of Darlington Borough Council’s asbestos team, encouraged the pair – friends from a golfing society – to submit bogus invoices to his department.

Dougherty claimed £75,000 for work he falsely said had been carried out on projects while Burns fraudently billed £33,000 for the hire of a cherry-picker.

A fourth defendant, Graeme Storey, 38, of Hart Lane, Hartlepool, was recruited by Skirving after police started to probe his dealings. Storey told officers he was one of the workers on the fake schemes. He was jailed for four months after he being found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a Teesside Crown Court trial last month.

Skirving, Dougherty and Burns, were all convicted of conspiracy to defraud after the fiveweek trial.

Judge Peter Armstrong told them: “This was systematic fraud, getting money out of the local authority... these offences are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

He said he read “outstanding” references for the three businessmen and added: “The sad aspect of this case is that that each of you were extremely hardworking and well thought-of.”

Paul Cleasby, for Skirving, said the great-grandfather had done a lot of work for charity, and his elevation to a position of power may have gone to his head.

Dan Cordey, said it was “a tragic day” for his client Dougherty, of Westbrooke Avenue, and added: “He is unlikely to have been the prime mover or originator of the scheme.”

Robin Denny, for Burns, of Wansbeck Gardens, said he was devastated by his conviction, and added: “His main concern is for his family and the survival of his business.”

Storey’s barrister, Annalise Haugstad, told Judge Armstrong that he was struggling with an alcohol problem at the time of the offence last year, but has since battled back to health.

Since the trial, Skirving has also admitted a fraud which involved using a forged asbestos removal licence to win a leisure centre contract with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

After the hearing, a Darlington Council spokeswoman said they had taken measures to recover the money.