A Gloucester NHS manager who used the local hospital trust as a "personal bank machine" to fund lavish improvement work to his home has been jailed for four years eight months.

Royston Dyke, 58, of Stroud rd, Gloucester, was the ringleader of a gang that stole more than £650,000 of taxpayers' money from the NHS to spend on their own homes, Bristol crown court was told.

Dyke abused his trusted position as associate director of capital and development at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to syphon off funds - together with builders Vincent Smith, 58, of Innsworth Lane, Longlevens, and Graham Fallows, 59, of Oxstalls Lane, Gloucester, and decorator Peter Potente, 54, of Chartwell close, Hempsted.

The court heard that Dyke, who had worked for the NHS for more than 20 years, falsely increased the value of purchase orders for work within the hospitals by small sums.

He would then get the three contractors to send invoices for the higher amounts - but the cash was being used to renovate their own homes. Dyke benefited from nearly £400,000 of work paid for by the taxpayer.

At a sentencing hearing in May, which for legal reasons can be reported only now, the court heard that Dyke, whose home is now for sale under the Proceeds of Crime Act, had submitted 204 invoices.

All four men admitted conspiracy to commit fraud and were ordered to pay compensation.

Smith and Fallows were each jailed for three years and four months. Potente received a 16 months sentence.

Judge Mark Horton told the men "The reason for this fraud is both tragic and simple — one in the end of grotesque greed."

He said that Dyke had "used and abused" his position to the detriment of NHS patients.

"The money you obtained deprived the ability of the Trust to look after the vulnerable and sick who needed it," said the judge.

James Tucker, defending, said Dyke was remorseful and would be "ruined" by the time he has paid compensation for the fraud.

Detective Inspector Wayne Usher, head of fraud and financial crime at Gloucestershire police, said "It's quite clear Roy Dyke wanted to live this lavish lifestyle. He treated the NHS like a cash machine."

Deborah Lee, chief executive at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the fraud was 'abhorrent' and Dyke "grossly abused his position of trust."

She added "It speaks to his moral compass and was devastating for his colleagues, who did not share his values."