Jeremy Sage, from Penarth, stole £246,324 from two elderly clients, forging signatures on financial documents and issuing fake cheques.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old used clients’ money to pay for membership of golf clubs and a high-living lifestyle, the South Wales Argus reported.
Appearing before a district judge at the magistrates’ court he then stole prosecution papers during a lunch adjournment but was caught on CCTV.
Defending Sage, Kieron Malloy said he had been trying to emulate his well-respected father, whose business he took over, but was out of his depth and was not up to the job.
Sage was arrested again last month, from prison, to answer further fraud and perverting the course of justice charges, relating to an alleged false insurance claim over a watch and an issue regarding the occupation of a rented property.
