A former bank worker “abused his position” and colluded with an organised crime group in frauds that cost customers more than £1 million.

Said Hussain was jailed for five years and six months at Southwark Crown Court on September 29 for fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.

UK Finance - a group that represents the banking and finance industry - said Hussain was arrested following an investigation by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, a specialist police unit sponsored by the banking industry.

UK Finance said Hussain, who worked at an East Ham bank branch, abused his position as a trusted member of staff and stole customers’ information, gaining unauthorised access to their accounts.

Hussain is said to have used the information to order new bank cards and used some of the fraudulent funds to buy and sell expensive items such as watches and drones.

He is also reported to have allowed fraudulent transactions by monitoring customer accounts and sharing their details with members of an organised crime group who used this for fraud of their own.

CCTV evidence revealed others involved in the fraud attending the branch posing as genuine customers and making fraudulent withdrawals from the accounts.

Detective Constable Jeremy Boxall said: “By using stolen customer details he enabled the theft of over one million pounds of customers’ funds.

“Hussain abused his position as a member of branch staff and by working with the banking and finance industry we were able to put a stop to his criminal activity and ensure the funds were returned to the victims.”

Hussain can personally be linked to approximately £615,000 of the £1,201,821 fraud enabled by his actions.

The victims were fully refunded by the bank.

DC Boxall added: “This sentencing should warn anyone who believes they can benefit financially from committing fraud that they will be caught and brought to justice”.