A fraudster from Ramsgate who used taxpayers' money to fund a lavish lifestyle has been convicted after a raid in Dover.

Timothy Springett, 41, was paid £1,525,848 over four years by Learndirect, to provide 2,150 educational courses to under-skilled or unemployed Kent residents.

The raid took place at Want To Learn in Charlton Green, Dover, where it was found that many of Springett's students were fabricated. Instead he pocketed the grants himself to spend on designer watches, sports cars and luxury holidays.

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a joint investigation with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Criminal Taxes Unit in February 2012 and arrested Springett, of Whinfell Avenue in Ramsgate, on May 9, 2012.

On April 14 this year, he was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and two charges of cheating the public revenue.

Springett never declared any of the money he received from Learndirect to HMRC, he also failed to operate PAYE and National Insurance on his own staff's wages and in total evaded tax of £357,372 plus interest.

Detective Constable Stuart Champion, the investigating officer, said: "While living the high life, Springett spent £38,000 on a Nissan GT-R, £30,000 on watches, £26,000 on a Porsche Cayenne, £10,000 on paintings and went on a trip to Las Vegas.

"When we executed a warrant at Want To Learn’s premises in Charlton Green in Dover, we found lists of students’ log-on details and passwords. There would never be a reason for tutors to possess the log-on details of genuine students.

"The firm was paid for each course a student completed, but auditors became suspicious at the fact Springett and his staff seemed able to recruit more students as soon as additional funding became available. We found copies of fake examination certificates which Want To Learn used to prove to Government auditors that courses were being taken and completed.

"As well as creating fake students with email addresses and mobile phone numbers, Springett and his staff enrolled genuine students on additional courses which were inappropriate for them, to get more money for more completed courses. One adult learner we interviewed said he was “offended” at the simplicity of some of the questions asked.

"Springett also created a fake company, named the Norman Earnshaw Trust, with 40 fake employees who he enrolled on 163 of his courses."

Springett’s fraud began in 2007, when he bought a Deal-based company which was already providing Learndirect courses. He changed the name of the firm to Timothy Springett trading as Want To Learn and made himself the sole signatory of the business bank account.

"While living the high life, Springett spent £38,000 on a Nissan GT-R, £30,000 on watches, £26,000 on a Porsche Cayenne, £10,000 on paintings and went on a trip to Las Vegas." - Detective Constable Champion.

He expanded the number of operating centres to four with sites at Aylsham, Whitfield, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

George Cain and Ryan Talling joined existing tutor Chris Pritchard on Want To Learn’s staff in 2008.

All three were complicit in the fraud but when Pritchard, 33, was dismissed from the firm in 2011 he turned on his ex-employers and assisted the police’s investigation.

Cain, 27, of Bobbing Hill in Bobbing and Talling, 30, of Bridge Close in Sandwich, were arrested in September 2012.

Pritchard, of Hillcrest Road in Kingsdown, was summonsed to court where all three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud at a hearing in September 2014.

All four men will be sentenced on May 26.