A FINANCIAL adviser who defrauded two companies out of £30,000 has been spared jail after a judge heard that he remains “haunted” by the death of a young girl nearly two decades ago.

Former policeman Andrew Bush, of Thames Drive, Taunton, appeared at the town’s Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) for sentencing after admitting 13 counts of fraud.

The court heard how Bush, 52, set up a number of bogus insurance policies between 2012 and 2013 while working as a self-employed financial advisor, first for Mortgage Select South-West and later White Financial Services.

He later cancelled all the policies, but kept the commission. His fraud was uncovered when Gareth Markham, the director of Mortgage Select, became suspicious and discovered that all the policies Bush had set up there were addressed to his new workplace.

The court heard how Bush had set up several policies for former clients in their names without telling them.

When the former clients were called they knew nothing about the policies.

At yesterday’s hearing Bush was given a suspended jail term after the court heard that he still suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after a fatal road collision he dealt with while working with the police 17 years ago.

When Bush was first interviewed by the police in August, 2013, he said his PTSD meant he had no knowledge of what he had done.

It was not until his second interview in March, 2014, that he admitted the fraud. Simon Cooper, defending, said: “He has had difficulties with PTSD since an incident he attended in 1998 when he was working as a police officer and a young girl died. “He still sees her face and is haunted to this day by it.

“He has run away from his family, and he ran away to Italy in May, 2013, after what had happened came to light and tried to commit suicide.

“He understands that he has behaved wrongly and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He has already paid back the money to Mr White (Daniel White, of White Financial Services) and has every intention to repay Mr Markham.”

Sentencing, Judge Geoffrey Mercer told Bush he had been dishonest and had “utterly betrayed” his victims, but added: “I’ve been persuaded that your mental health problems set out are a factor, which entitles me to suspend the sentence.”

Bush was given a ten-month sentence, suspended for two years, was ordered to undergo therapy and must abide by a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.

There will be a hearing later this year to determine court costs.