AN ISLAND man employed by the Ministry of Defence abused his position of trust by cheating a war veteran out of his pension, an Isle of Wight court was told.

Michael Alan Wilson, of Harvey Road, Newport, admitted committing fraud by making false representation to employers, Veterans UK, by claiming he was Frederick Lucy, to change war pension payment details into his own bank account.

His victim, a war veteran, was defrauded of £2,167.20, between August 13 and September 23, 2019.

Wilson also admitted perverting the course of justice on August 28 last year, by making a false statement to the police, falsely implicating his friend, Marcus Olivier, for committing the fraud.

Wilson, 34, denied the offences right up to the eve of his trial, which was due to begin at the Isle of Wight Crown Court yesterday.

When he was challenged about the fraud in his police interview, Wilson cast all blame on Mr Olivier, said Tim Moores, prosecuting.

As a result of that allegation, Mr Olivier was interviewed as a fraud suspect.

Mr Olivier and detectives listened to telephone calls from Veterans UK, which is part of the MOD acting as a dedicated support organisation for service personnel, veterans and their families.

Mr Olivier was able to identify Wilson's voice on one of the recordings, which subsequently proved his guilt.

There is currently a restraining order in place in relation to the sum of £2,700 cash seized from Wilson during a separate police inquiry.

Regarding the confiscation proceedings, Mr Moores indicated to Wilson's legal team that should Wilson allow the sum defrauded be repaid to the victim as compensation, with the remainder set aside as a contribution to costs, the Crown Prosecution Service would no longer pursue confiscation proceedings.

For Wilson, Laura Deuxberry said her client agreed with the financial arrangement.

The judge, Tim Mousley, ordered a report on Wilson and warned him perverting the course of justice alone was regarded as so serious, it could result in his immediate imprisonment.

Wilson was also warned he faced custody if he failed to co-operate with the Probation Service in compiling the pre-sentencing report on him.

Wilson was bailed to reappear at the same venue for sentencing on November 30.