A swindler who robbed two health charities of £562,000 has been jailed for five years.

Keith Foster, 49, of Connaught Way, Billericay, stole £162,000 from the British Association of Hand Therapists.

He later took £400,000 from a fund which pays Government compensation to patients who caught hepatitis C through blood transfusions.

Richard Hampton, deputy managing director of the NHS anti-fraud team, said: "Keith Foster abused his position of trust and responsibility to steal from his employers.

"He stole money meant for people with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased with the result and hope it sends a message to others who think they can steal taxpayers' money.

"You will get caught and you will face tough punishment."

Recorder Christopher Thomas told Foster at Basildon Crown Court: "The people from whom you took were two charities for whom you worked and for who you were in a position of trust."

David Pickersgil, prosecuting, told the court Foster got involved with the organisation which provides funding for research into hand treatments via his ex-wife, who was the charity's treasurer.

He was employed as general manager in 1999 and started fiddling cheques and paying money into his own account. Foster was made redundant in 2004 and began working at the hepatitis C charity, known as the Skipton Fund, as a manager, then company secretary.

Foster pleaded guilty to 34 counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception.

Aisha Khan, defending, said Foster committed the crimes because he was struggling to pay a £90,000 credit card debt. She said Foster's life had been destroyed by his actions.

He suffered a breakdown in the mid-1990s, attempted suicide and his wife had left him after discovering his betrayal. She added no one who applied for funds at the charities was affected and Foster was ashamed of what he had done.