David Heppleston, 47, swindled up to £613,000 from taxpayers over nine years in one of the biggest ever cons on the NHS.

The dentist - who scooped £64,000 on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" in the midst of his scam - created 800 'ghost' patients and was jailed for four years in 2006 after admitting 100 charges of fraud totalling £448,021.

But the true total could be £165,000 higher as 'plea bargaining' reduced the number of fraudulent claims taken into account, the General Dental Council heard at yesterday's misconduct hearing.

Chair of the panel Julie Macfarlane said Heppleston diverted public money from the treatment of patients and had committed a gross breach of trust.

She said: "The fraud was on a very large scale and persisted over a long period, and ended only because it was discovered. Mr Heppleston's conduct has inevitably damaged the reputation of the profession and reduced public confidence in the profession."

The London hearing heard that Heppleston - who owned one house on Osgodby Lane, Osgodby,and another on Bradworth Drive - had repaid £259,120 in compensation, either through restraint of his assets or by order of the court. The NHS is now attempting to recover the remaining funds through civil action.

Speaking after the hearing Steve McKenzie, of the NHS Counter-Fraud Service, said Heppleston made more than 3,800 false claims for payment from the NHS.

"Heppleston defrauded large sums of money that were intended for patient care, betraying the people of Scarborough and the majority of honest, hardworking dentists," said Mr McKenzie. "The NHS is committed to using all available sanctions to target those who steal from it."