Conservative Club Treasurer Jailed For Nicking Over £50K

The treasurer for Sidcup and District Conservative and Social Club is starting an eighteen-month prison sentence for stealing over £50,000 by transferring the organisation's money directly into his bank account.

Mark Edmonds, 53, of Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent plunged the club a quarter of a million pounds into debt and they were hit with a late tax bill of £20,000.

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to one count of stealing £57,284.30p from the club over two-and-a-half years between 2009 and 2012, plus a count of fraud by misrepresentation in relation to the same sum.

"It started with the defendant transferring money to his account to pay a nine thousand pound bill to the brewery and then taking more than he was entitled to," said Mr. Matthew Buckland, defending.

"He started with honest intentions, but succumbed to the temptation to take, in small increments, money he was not entitled to.

"He has been made bankrupt and this debt is part of his bankruptcy."

The prison sentence means the £2,293 per month Edmonds was paying his creditors until mid-2017 will come to and end.

Prosecutor Miss Brinder Soora told the court: "The defendant was employed as a treasurer to the community club that has pensioner members and organises events such as darts, snooker and football."

A chartered accountant reviewed the finances in May, 2012. "She found the club owed over two hundred and fifty pounds, which on the face of it appeared not to be accounted for.

"The defendant had been misappropriating money from the club in the form of transfers from the club's Lloyds Bank account to his own bank account.

"He was given an opportunity by the club to explain, but was not forthcoming and the police were called. It was they're only option.

"The club were unable to meet it's tax liabilities and were fined."

When questioned by police Edmonds, who is not a qualified accountant, said he began borrowing small amounts to cover his own financial difficulties and would repay the money.

He has pension pots of £75,000 and £40,000, which he can access at the age of fifty-five years-old, but there are no court orders forcing him to repay the club.

"Whatever the balance is to the club will be paid from those two pensions," added Mr. Buckland.

"He was unable to resist the temptation in front of him, but is able to pay the money given time and repair the damage that has been done." 

Edmonds says £150,000 of the initial £250,000 unaccounted for was paid out by him in legitimate bills on behalf of the club.

"You took advantage of the trust placed in you and took that money over a long period of time," Judge Joanna Greenberg QC told Edmonds.