A crooked charity collector who recruited teams of volunteers to divert funds away from an international housing trust has been jailed.

“Callous” Roy Bardy, 48, exploited the generosity of commuters at train stations before pocketing the monies destined for the NAS international housing charity and the Christian charity the Communion of True Vineyard Foundation.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation but he is thought to have presided over more than 80 fraudulent collections in two years, British Transport Police said.

Bardy, of Henshawe Road, Dagenham, was jailed for 13 months at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Con Mike Ganly said: “This is a sad case that has seen commuters’ kind generosity and donations to charities unknowingly taken by Bardy and pocketed himself.

“He is a callous thief and his actions, diverting money away from charities which rely on donations to fund their good work, has resulted in those good causes suffering financial losses.”

The court heard Bardy recruited volunteers and employees to stand at rail stations in London and counties including Essex, Kent, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire between 2009 and 2010.

British Transport Police officers were first alerted to his actions when commuters complained of suspicious behaviour from Bardy and his collectors at several stations.

An investigation was carried out on Bardy’s activities, which led to officers carrying out a search warrant of his rented office in Dagenham and his arrest in November 2010.

BTP said he was approaching charities and offering his services as a charity collector and fundraiser to recruit teams to stand at stations and collect donations.

A police spokesman said: “Charity collectors were then able to attend in possession of appropriate ID and letters from charities, completely unaware of what was being said and done in their name.”

Sentencing Bardy to 13 months imprisonment for each offence concurrently, Judge Henry Blacksell said: “You saw an opportunity to make money from charities which you manipulated to your advantage.

“You made multiple fraudulent, deceiving transactions over the years. It was a breach of trust and a representation which causes people to suffer. You are a manipulator, and a dishonest man.”