With a habit for lavish holidays and expensive meals at top London restaurants, friends of Ian Chaplin probably assumed he owned a lucrative accounting practice.

In reality he funded his lifestyle by fleecing the Crawley company hiring him out of £1.3million.

As he picked up a modest salary as an accountant for Frazer Russell, Chaplin made a fortune by plundering the bank accounts of insurance firm Italre International over a period of four years.

The 41-year-old councillor was today behind bars after admitting 18 charges of theft of a credit balance and asking for another 80 counts to be taken into consideration.

Hove Crown Court heard that Chaplin was a member of Tandridge District Council, Surrey, and a respected member of the community.

Such was his standing that one of the country's top policemen, now retired, appeared as his character witness.

Chaplin paid £200,000 for his flat in Brunswick Square, Hove, and bought two flats in Spain as a property investment. He treated his friends to meals out and travelled the world flying club class.

Rufus Stilgoe, prosecuting, said: "He was working for accountants Frazer Russell and had access to the company's bank accounts.

"He had authority to transfer money in and out of their accounts. The offences came to light when Italre were taken over by another insurance company. It immediately became apparent that there was a considerable deficit in the accounts.

"Although he was not certain of the exact amount at the time he said he thought it was around £1million."

The court heard that the sale of Chaplin's property and other assets is likely to raise £760,000.

Civil action has been started in an attempt to recover the remaining £500,000.

Patrick Gibbs, defending, "He is a very unhappy, insecure and lonely man.

"That he was attempting to buy friendship or love can be accepted.

"He was taking people he hoped were friends to restaurants and paying for all of them.

"His partner at the time was running up significant credit card bills which were paid off.

"That relationship has now foundered and he finds himself alone again."

Jailing Chaplin for five years, Judge Guy Anthony told him: "Your reputation is in tatters. You have only yourself to blame."

Chaplin's exposure for theft has come as a huge surprise to many of his acquantainces.

His neighbours in Hove yesterday claimed to know nothing of his double lifestyle.