A computer whiz-kid who created forged rail tickets to avoid paying for his daily commute for more than two years was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay the fares today.

IT consultant Jonathan Moore, 27, saved a total of £12,472 by using his computer skills to design and produce phoney tickets for rail trips from East Sussex to London.

But he was caught when a ticket inspector on a First Capital Connect train spotted his bogus ticket during a routine inspection on the Bedford to Brighton service last November.

Subtle differences in the colour and material of Moore's ticket were noticed by the eagle-eyed inspector, who helped bring his enterprising scam to an end.

A further 11 forged tickets dating back to 2006 were discovered in a plastic wallet in which Moore kept his ticket, and on a laptop seized at his home were designs for more than 70 fraudulent tickets.

Moore, of Goldstone Villas, Hove, was sentenced at Brighton Crown Court today.

He was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty in August to fraud, making 74 forged travel tickets and possessing 11 forged tickets.

He was ordered to repay the £12,472 of unpaid ticket charges.