A man who oversaw payments at a university fraudulently stole over £2 million from the institution.

David Hall, 64, used his position as head of income and payments at the University of Brighton to embezzle around £2.4 million.

Hall, of Shepherds Way in Ringmer, covered up his crimes by making fraudulent entries into the university’s accounts.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, theft by an employee and false accounting at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 16.

Sussex Police investigator Rose Horan said: “Year after year, the hole in the university’s finances became larger and more difficult for Hall to conceal.

“After an audit uncovered the scale of Hall’s embezzlement, the University of Brighton was quick to report the fraud to Sussex Police and their support throughout the investigation has been invaluable in bringing David Hall to justice.”

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After reporting the crime to police in November 2021, an investigation uncovered a series of complex financial cover-ups carried out by Hall spanning a period of 30 years.

Police added that the case required “forensic scrutiny” in order to uncover Hall’s crimes.

Hall is due to be sentenced on March 16 at a court yet to be confirmed.