Tennant had also claimed to be working in conjunction with Disability Concern Limited, which does not exist.

Just two months later another of his volunteers was caught outside Boots at the Princess Alice Retail Park in New Oscott.

The court heard that he had been challenged a number of times by the Charity Commission, but he had always managed to “fob them off.”

Nicholas Smith, prosecuting, said: “Large numbers of the public were taken in because this fraud was operated in a sophisticated way and they thought they were donating to a genuine charity.”

Balraj Bhatia, defending, said: “He is a deeply religious man from a decent background. He accepts his guilt and is deeply remorseful for what he has done.

“He has not been living a lavish lifestyle or the life of Riley.

“The money went towards paying off debts for his failed printing business.”

Judge Parker told him: “You purport to be a man of exemplary character, a church-goer, a good family man and a man, who on the face of it, was willing to help others.

“But, in a large part your life has been a fraud, collecting for disabled and disadvantaged children is an area that engenders the greatest public sympathy and generosity.

“Cases like this dent the public confidence in giving to charity and they make generous hearted people pause before they give.

“I question your apparent deeply religious outlook and it is impossible to know the exact amounts that you took to feather your own nest and to prop up your business.

“I cannot accept that this was not cynical and I don’t regard you as naive, as has been suggested.

“You also have a previous conviction in 1990, which involved collecting for charity before pocketing the proceeds.”

Proceedings have now been started to try and recover some of the cash.