A treasurer who raided a bridge club’s coffers and stole almost £23,000 has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Charlotte Phillips, 39, had been in charge of Workington Bridge Club’s finances since 2018.
From September 2021, Phillips was asked by the club secretary for copies of audited accounts but gave different excuses which aroused suspicions.
In August 2022, a committee meeting took place to receive and approve accounts from the past two financial years.
But an accountant contacted by the club informed them he had not received accounts for three years. Accounts presented by Phillips were littered with spelling mistakes and, Carlisle Crown Court heard, were poorly presented with no account details on and no signature by the accountant.
When Phillips visited a club member, saying she’d stolen £5,000, there were discussions about repayment.
But when she returned the following day and said the actual figure fiddled was closer to £20,000, police were contacted.
The total sum taken was £22,781. Phillips, of Elterwater Avenue, Workington, admitted fraud by abuse of position. She had made full and frank admissions in interview, and expressed remorse.
In an impact statement, a representative spoke of the club having a very aged membership. The massive financial hit had forced members to put on hold structural improvements previously planned to improve club access points for users.
“At the end of the day we are part of this club for enjoyment and as a hobby. This whole incident has changed that and put a lot of extra stress and anxiety on us all,” he said.
A lawyer representing Phillips said she was seeking to address issues which led to her committing a first criminal offence.
After hearing mitigation, Judge Nicholas Barker suspended a 16-month jail term for two years, concluding there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. She must complete rehabilitation work and a 12-week, electronically monitored night time curfew.
Of her former trusted role as treasurer, Judge Barker said: “You abused that trust.
“That’s what makes this offending so serious. The people who you abused were people who you knew. The people who relied on you. The people you would see no doubt on a near weekly basis when you knew all the while you were stealing from them.
“You stood there, bare-faced, in front of them, knowing you were stealing their money. It is not a wealthy institution. Therefore the loss of this money was significant.”
Judge Barker added it was regrettable no compensation could be ordered, saying: “It seems to me there is little prospect of this money being paid back.”
