The real life Robin Hood was a banker?

I'm prepared to believe a lot of strange things. Dolphins sleep with one eye open? Okay, I can buy into that. Slugs have 4 noses? No problem. But the real life Robin Hood was a banker? No chance.

Apparently it's true, well sort-of. The real-life Robin - or Benedict Hancock as he is otherwise known - was sent to prison today after it emerged he took millions of pounds from rich clients' accounts and gave it to needy customers.

Hancock channelled more than £7 million into the accounts of troubled companies without any "direct financial gain" according to a judge at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The court was told that the 39-year-old father of two did this because he "wanted the companies to do well, for their sake rather than his."

Hancock - who like his mythical counterpart is from Nottinghamshire - worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland as senior relationship manager.

He would take money from the accounts of his wealthier customers and loan it out to firms who required extra cash, setting up false accounts to transfer millions of pounds.

More often than not the companies did not notice the money was missing. If Hancock was ever questioned he would say the money had been invested in safe Bank of England bonds.

The unauthorised loans were discovered in November 2006 when one of Hancock's clients discovered he was £5 million short.

Judge Karsten QC ruled that despite his altruistic motives, Hancock had benefited indirectly from the secret transactions:

"The motivation was to ensure that you remained in good stead with your superiors so that you received your annual bonus," the ruling stated.

Two of Hancock's recipients have agreed to pay the money back but RBS has written off £6.3 million owed by one clothing company.

Hancock was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of 14 counts of false accounting and one count of abuse of position.