A financial advisor embezzeled a chunk of his client's £1.4 million pension then bounced a cheque instead of repaying it, a jury heard on Monday.

Semi-retired chartered accountant Derek James discovered £85,000 of his pension missing.

His independent financial advisor, Colin Stanton, who operated from his Grosvenor Employee benefits office in Swindon, had allegedly taken the fortune in commission, despite promising he would only claim a fee.

Simon Davis, prosecuting, told the jury at Reading Crown Court how the 58-year-old pretended his client had agreed to pay him the commission.

However, when Mr James, 60, complained to Stanton's agent, National Mutual Life (NML), the defendant agreed to pay it back plus interest. He wrote a cheque for £94,750 on Harrods Bank but then stopped the cheque.

NML's Stephanie Seal told how Mr James had filed a complaint on October 9, 1998 when he discovered Stanton had taken too much money.

Colin Stanton, 58, of Burnham, Bucks, denies four charges of evading liability and four of fraudulently trading. The trial continues.