The head of Britain’s Energy Coast has shed light on how serial fraudster James Cox was appointed by the regeneration agency.

Chief executive Michael Pemberton said his organisation was tightening up its recruitment processes – and called on other companies to be vigilant.

Mr Pemberton spoke out after 51-year-old conman Cox was jailed for six years for defrauding BEC out of £40,000.

Carlisle Crown Court heard on Friday that Cox falsified a CV and invented references to land the £65,000-a-year role of finance director at the firm.

Cox diverted vital public money away from the organisation and into his own pocket, before using it to acquire several luxury vehicles.

It was only after Cox left BEC by mutual consent last summer that his fraud was uncovered.

Mr Pemberton, who became its chief executive in November, was alerted to the crime during a “forensic” audit, and reported the matter to Cumbria Police.

Although “delighted” with Cox’s prison sentence, he regretted that potential west Cumbria investment funding had been lost.

Mr Pemberton admitted public confidence in BEC had taken a knock.

But he stated: “Be under no illusion here, every person in BEC has a very clear mandate, and that mandate is to get people to believe in us again. That is going to take time.

“But I am confident that under my stewardship we will do that. We will become significantly important to Copeland and Allerdale, in particular.”

He revealed Cox and other potential employees came to the attention of BEC through a well respected headhunting firm.

“James Cox went through a series of interviews internally and he was successful and placed into post,” he said.

“We have to keep this in perspective; this was one individual. One individual who went to great lengths to deceive. And we weren’t the only company to be deceived, let’s bear that in mind, too.”

Mr Pemberton added: “There were early signs that James Cox was probably not a good fit for the organisation (BEC), and this could have been picked up at a three-month lead review but wasn’t.

“I think that myself and my board are very clear about the governance that needs to be applied to BEC going forwards. I think we could have applied much more rigour, and it is something we will be doing going forwards.

“We urge companies to have a much more challenging and robust debate with headhunters when they are passing on candidates for selection.”


Related: Serial fraudster who conned Britain's Energy Coast jailed