David Brown, 46, pocketed thousands of pounds by setting up fake accounts in the names of investors – including family and friends – while still working for the British Transport Police (BTP).

Mr Brown, of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, carried out the fraud by applying for insurance policies for other people without their knowledge or consent and pocketing the commission paid out by finance giants Legal and General.

Despite earning £50,000-a-year as an inspector with the BTP, in September 2009 he took on a second job with Glasgow based financial services firm Ronal H Smith and Co.

Discrepancies were found in his accounts and an investigation uncovered 90 per cent of policies sold by him were bogus, cancelled or had disappeared.

In 2011 he was removed from his post and a police probe found that a total of 52 false policies had been submitted under him.

Brown, a married father-ofone, had been suspended from police duties as he faced the fraud allegations.

He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he admitted fraudulently accepting commission totalling £92,365.97 between 2010 and 2011.

Brown’s crimes were discovered when customer Anna Dunne realised unauthorised payments were being taken from her bank account.

Sheriff David Bicket deferred sentence until next month for reports.