AN NHS boss is facing prison after using his health service credit card to do his own shopping.

Terence High used the card to splash out on groceries, cigarettes, petrol and scratch cards.

The 50-year-old worked as a procurement manager at the Solent NHS Trust and while employed in the trusted role he used the card.

He would then submitted fake entries on the trust's accounting systems, claiming the money spent was on memory cards.

Southampton Magistrates Court heard that in total High, who no longer works at the trust, defrauded the NHS out of £1,631.12.

As part of his role, High was responsible for purchasing items on behalf of the trust's staff at its headquarters in Highpoint, Thornhill.

Prosecutor Sam Wright told the court High used the credit cards 76 times between February and December 2016.

The trust, which provides community and mental health services to people living in Portsmouth, Southampton and in some parts of Hampshire, decided to investigate High after he was convicted for four different fraud matters at Dorset Magistrates' Court in November of that year, receiving a 12 month suspended sentence.

As part of the credit card reconciliation process, the trust identified there were receipts for purchases made at supermarkets across Hampshire and Dorset.

The trust’s local counter fraud specialist (LCFS) undertook a review of all purchases made using the credit card and identified a large number of transactions which were made at weekends or at supermarkets.

Following the investigation, High was interviewed and admitted making the purchases, including several while on the suspended sentence.

High, of Hillbury Road, Fordingbridge, pleaded guilty to fraud by position and breaching the terms of his suspended sentence order.

Magistrates said the case was so serious it had to be heard at the city's crown court.

He will next appear on October 22.

Janet Brownlow, mitigating, told the court High, who now hopes to begin running a burger van to pay back the money he owes the NHS, had made "some stupid mistakes" but had struggled with finances.

She said that since his conviction he had not been able to get help from the probation service and that he suffered with anxiety and mental health.

Ms Brownlow added: "He fully accepts the stress he must have caused the people he works for.

"He regrets what he has done."

Following his conviction, Samantha Willoughby, head of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fraud and Security Management Service, said: "Terry High sought to defraud his employer to obtain an advantage that he was not entitled to.

"Not only did his actions impact on the NHS financially, but also on staff morale.

"The criminal action taken sends a message that this type of crime against the NHS is treated seriously and will not be tolerated."