A MAN who earned £250,000 during more than two years employment with a major construction company has been taken to court on deception charges, after it was alleged he was not a qualified civil engineer.

Alan Stevens, 58, worked at Maple Cross-based firm Skanska, from February 1998 to November 2001.

He was not at Watford Magistrates Court, on Wednesday to hear the charges brought against him.

Mr David Chrimes, prosecuting, said the charges focused on allegations that the defendant said he held a degree in Civil Engineering when he did not.

The unusual charge of obtaining a pecuniary advantage through deception is an offence under the 1968, Theft Act.

Stevens' address is listed as Whitley Bay in North Yorkshire.

A letter from his representatives asking for their client to be excused from Wednesday's hearing was accepted by magistrates.

The case has been adjourned to the same court for Wednesday, February 26.

January 30, 2003 15:30