Bogus NHS boss who raked in more than £1million despite being a BUILDER is jailed for two years
Jon Andrewes, 63, made up qualifications and called himself 'Dr' before becoming head of two NHS trusts and a hospice
A BOGUS NHS boss who raked in more than £1million despite being a builder has been jailed for two years.
Jon Andrewes, 63, made up qualifications and called himself “Dr” before becoming head of two NHS trusts and a hospice.
In fact he only had a social work certificate and a PGCE in teaching.
A court heard Andrewes was hired as chief executive of St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset in 2004 after claiming to have been a partner at a technology firm.
He also lied about gaining a first-class degree and a PhD.
Andrewes, who in reality was a former social worker, probation officer and builder, was later appointed chairman of the Torbay NHS Care Trust in Devon in 2007.
He then went on to beat 117 rivals to head up the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust in 2015 — before NHS investigators finally delved into his past the following April.
Days later he announced he was retiring “through ill health”.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Prosecutor Cameron Brown told Exeter crown court: "He was able to obtain employment at St Margaret's Hospice and a number of senior NHS positions.
"He earned significant renumeration in these roles, exceeding £1 million in a 10-year period.
"He had numerous opportunities to come clean but failed to do so.
"This case has caused significant and understandable embarrassment to the NHS.
"His appointment was meant to inspire confidence but instead had the opposite impact."
Andrewes’ performance in the roles, which earned him more than £1million, was sometimes “unsatisfactory” but he was not “actively doing damage”.
Defending, Rosaleen Collins said ex-colleagues said he was honest, dedicated, respected and showed strong leadership.
She added: “Mr Andrewes has extreme regret and remorse for what he describes as ‘sheer stupidity’.”
Andrewes, of Totnes, Devon, admitted two charges of fraud and one of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
Judge Geoffrey Mercer told him: “Your outwardly prestigious life was based upon a lie, and more accurately, a series of staggering lies.”