A bogus charity collector who pocketed commuters’ donations has been jailed for 13 months.

Roy Bardy was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.

The court heard how, over a period of three years, Bardy, 48, recruited volunteers and employees to stand at railway stations across the country, including Rainham, to collect money for charities.

British Transport Police officers were first alerted to what was going on when commuters complained of suspicious behaviour by Bardy and his collectors at several stations.

Bardy was arrested in November 2010. Evidence at his office and home were seized and examined by detectives.

It was then officers discovered the extent of fraud Bardy had been running. He was approaching charities and offering his services as a charity collector and fundraiser to recruit teams to stand at stations and collect donations.

He would establish contact with the train operation companies seeking to have authorised charity collectors at stations on specific dates.

Collectors were then able to attend in possession of appropriate ID and letters from charities, completely unaware of what was being said and done in their name.

At Rainham railway station, he set up a collection for NAS International, a charity which helps sick and abused children.

Sentencing Bardy, of Dagenham, Essex, to 13 months imprisonment Judge Henry Blacksell said: “You are a manipulator, and a dishonest man.”

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer DC Mike Ganly said: “This is a sad case that has seen commuters’ kind generosity and donations to charities unknowingly taken by Bardy and pocketed himself.”