A Woodham Ferrers accountant who admitted to stealing from his own church has been jailed for eight years.
Adam Woricker, 41, of Main Road, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (July 2) to 32 charges in relation to theft - totalling £1.6million.
He changed his plea yesterday at the start of what was due to be his trial.
The court heard the thefts took place while Woricker worked as a partner at London-based chartered accountants Fisher Phillips . His victims included author Hanif Kurieishi, his own clients, and a group of churches.
The ill-gotten proceeds were then spent on luxury hotels, holidays, cars and gifts to his girlfriend.
DC Ian Bloomfield, who was the Essex Police serious economic crime unit investigating officer said: "Adam Woricker had a lucrative career in London but this was not enough for him.
"He became involved in an investment scheme, called a Ponzi scheme, but then played fast and loose with other people's money, leaving some of them financially ruined.
"Woricker dishonestly hooked people into the scheme and because he was their accountant he knew how much they had available and took them for what he knew they were worth.
"He persuaded some people to spend their life savings or invest with him rather than pay off their mortgage.
"He stole over £2m, and he spent cash on shopping sprees for designer clothes and jewellery for him and his wife and he drove high value cars."
Dc Bloomfield added: "I hope this lengthy prison sentence for Woricker will give him time to reflect on his actions which left some of his victims penniless.
"I also hope it allows his victims a degree of closure and that they will be able to rebuild their lives and move on."
