A GREAT Western Railway boss on £91,000 a year rubber stamped unauthorised spending on booze, hotels and travel – in the name of team building.

Mark Heffernan, 47, of Clifford Street, Chudleigh, Devon, admitted four charges of fraud totalling £10,530.

Bristol Crown Court heard his personal assistant, 46-year-old Jennifer Perry, of Pill, admitted a single fraud.

That totalled £3,281 and was by facilitating the payment of fraudulent alcohol expenses between June 2009 and December 2016.

Judge Martin Picton adjourned sentence on both defendants until Monday, February 17.

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Mark Heffernan outside Bristol Crown Court

He told Perry she would not receive an immediate custodial sentence, and bailed both.

Prosecutor Benjamin Aina said: "This was over seven years and the loser was Great Western Railway.

"The company regularly prosecutes fare evaders.

"It expects the highest level of integrity from senior managers and those in positions of trust.

"Fraud leads to fare increases for members of the public."

Mr Aina said Heffernan worked for GWR for 28 years and worked his way up to head of drivers and then deputy operations director, on an annual salary of £91,000 plus bonuses.

He told the court: "The prosecution's case is he abused his position to extract further benefits from the company for himself and his team."

Mr Aina said Heffernan rubber-stamped staff claims for alcohol, when alcohol could not be claimed.

He also billed GWR for hotel stays he made with his wife at Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, the court heard.

Perry acted on instructions, the court heard, and there was evidence of her trying to hide alcohol purchases in claims for "food and beverages."

Heffernan, who resigned from the company, told investigators he recognised he had strayed into the wrong side of policy.

Perry, who was dismissed, gave a prepared statement in which she said she acted on orders.

Stephen Mejzner, defending Heffernan, said his client had literally worked "24/7" for GWR and produced good results.

Such was the regard held for him he was head-hunted by National Express and is now employed in a senior position with them, the court heard.

Paul Grumbar, defending Perry, said: "She made nothing out of it.

"She doesn't even drink wine.

"There was trust between her and her boss.

"She was criticised for not being a whistleblower."