Serial liar pretended he had health issues to con doctors into giving him hospital treatment... including faking a stroke Judge brands Derek Martin a 'persistent liar' blasting him for wasting precious NHS resources 'Diabolical' conman had accommodation, board and lodgings at the taxpayer's expense Visited 73 hospitals from south of England to northern Scotland Compulsive liar behind bars to give health service a respite Conman Derek Martin, has been jailed for four years, after tricking dozens of hospitals into treating him for fake ailments A conman who tricked dozens of hospitals across the UK into giving him medical treatment for fake ailments has been jailed for four years. Branding Derek Martin a 'persistent liar, and 'diabolical' a judge blasted the 69-year-old for wasting precious NHS time and resources, needed so desperately by other people. Teeside Crown Court heard Martin left one un-named doctor's surgery with an £85,000 budget deficit after stealing a patient's identity to secure medical treatment. In May Martin, who is said to have 25 different aliases, turned up at Middlesborough's James Cook University Hospital complaining he had suffered a stroke. Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said the pensioner underwent a number of different procedures, but his behaviour began causing concern when he became aggressive. There were inconsistencies in his account and he also refused to go for an MRI scan, saying he was claustrophobic. The police were called and arrested Martin, who has 110 fraud offences on his criminal record dating back to 1969. Martin admitted one count of fraud by false representation between May 2 and 9, in connection with the false claim. The defendant asked for four other similar matters to be taken into account between 2010 and 2013 - examples of what was said to be a string of offending involving hospitals and GP surgeries. Mrs Jacobs said Martin, of no fixed abode, got 'accommodation, board and lodge' on some occasions - at the taxpayers" expense. Martin turned up a Middlesborough's James Cook University Hospital claiming he had suffered a stroke but refused to have an MRI scan. He was jailed for four years at Teeside Crown Court Peter Wishlade, mitigating, said Martin had visited at least 73 hospitals where he had received treatment. He said: 'The list of hospitals is quite remarkable and ranges from the very south of the country to the north of Scotland.' It is diabolical. Those resources could have gone to others who desperately need them Judge Les Spittle The court was told that Martin refused to co-operate with a probation officer which Judge Les Spittle said made him unsuitable for a community based order. He told Martin: 'You have a mental condition...you cannot do anything but tell lies all the time whether it is to doctors trying to help you or your own legal representatives.' The judge said by locking him up for four years it would give some respite to the medical community and keep him out of hospitals and doctors" surgeries. He said: 'Our medical resources are vital and they should not be wasted in the way you are wasting them. Those resources could have gone to others who desperately need them and have probably been bumped back down the list.