AN unlicensed sports agent from Daresbury cheated clients out of more than £200,000 a court heard this week.

Nicholas Fowler, who was also an unlicensed rugby league agent, had acted for Great Britain star Adrian Morley since the player was 17, but eventually cheated him out of £110,000.

The forward had paid the money to Fowler as a pension fund in case his career was suddenly ended by injury.

Fowler, aged 47, who also duped four pensioners out of their nest egg savings, was jailed for two and a half years.

Judge Mark Brown told him, "You abused the position of trust you had with these clients and gambled with their money.

"You represented to them that you were investing their money in bonds when, in fact, you were putting the money into very risky share dealings.

"I am prepared to accept that, at that particular stage, you did not set out to steal from them but, nonetheless, your activities were dishonest."

Judge Brown said that while some of the loss could be accounted for by the uncertainty of the market, he had still pocketed about £140,000.

Simon Christie, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Fowler had operated as a financial advisor since 1992.

He also acted as an unlicensed rugby league agent, trading as Squad Sports Management and had 30 top class players on his books. From 1998 such agents became licensed and though he was offered one he never paid the necessary £30,000 bond.

Fowler, of Sandstone Cottages, pleaded guilty to nine offences of obtaining property by deception between 1992 and 2000.

Anthony Eyres, defending, said Fowler had invested the money in start-up companies which were high risk and he lost a total of £47,000 when that technology went through the floor.

"He suffered considerable losses through the volatility of these high risk investments," he said.