An estate agent fell victim to a scam by a land speculator who he regarded as a father figure.

Gary Bashford, 39, from West Sussex, became suspicious when 56-year-old Leslie Rawlings talked about winding up their company, Lindwood Investments, and splitting the profits at the end of 2003.

Rawlings, from Blandford, Dorset, made money buying and selling land, gaining planning permission and then selling it on to developers in deals worth millions of pounds.

He was involved in at least three property companies and an off-shore trust and had set up a business with Mr Bashford.

But Rawlings began to forge his business partner's signature and faxed requests to the bank to transfer money.

He had £321,300 illegally transferred from their company between February 11 and December 15, 2003, Dorchester Crown Court heard yesterday. He pleaded guilty to 21 counts of using a false instrument with intent.

Charles Gabb, prosecuting, said Mr Bashford was told by Rawlings that many land deals had fallen through and Mr Bashford began investigating. Police were called in and Rawlings was arrested and questioned in December 2004.

Recorder Douglas Field jailed Rawlings for two years and nine months and told him he would have to pay £225,000 in compensation. He disqualified him from being a director for eight years and ordered that he pay costs of £2,000.

Mr Bashford said outside court that he had looked to Rawlings as a father figure and had been treated like one of the family.

He said: "That hurts the most. He just did it out of greed in my opinion."

Mr Bashford, who has four children, is considering launching legal action against Rawlings.