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The producer of Brexit: The Movie has been jailed for more than three years after admitting lying to secure a £519,000 loan.

David Shipley, 37, edited images of his payslips and P60 to over-inflate his income in order to obtain money for a new finance firm he helped establish.

Southwark Crown Court heard on Thursday that Shipley had "Photoshopped" his P60 to show an income of £377,000, and bank statements showing £540,000.

But Judge Martin Griffith said the defendant's true income was just £19,928.

"It was clearly an abuse of position by you," he told Shipley.

"You were going into business with other people and you say you have earned this much in the past and they trusted your word."

The court heard that Shipley had set up corporate finance advisory firm Spitfire Capital Advisers Ltd with two other people.

(Image: PA)

In 2014, he contacted Resourcing Capital Ventures Limited (RCV) for a £519,000 loan, of which £327,600 was paid into Shipley's company, prosecutor Aqeel Noorali said.

Judge Griffith said Shipley's actions amounted to "gross dishonesty", adding: "You maintained, when you Photoshopped those documents, it amounted to a white lie."

The court heard that Shipley, of Broomfield Hill, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation between June 12 and September 5 2014.

"You were clearly acting out of your normal standards in this, but it was a blatant piece of dishonesty," Judge Griffith said.

(Image: PA)

He said Shipley was a man of "good character, save for a drink-driving matter".

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Judge Griffith jailed Shipley for three years and nine months. He will serve half of the sentence of licence.

Shipley, who showed no emotion as the sentence was read out, was also disqualified from being a director for seven years.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to take place at a later date.

Shipley denied a second charge of fraud by abuse of position between June 1 2014 and December 31 2017, which will lie on file.