A TRUSTED club steward fleeced his bosses of more than £3,500 – by pocketing cash from gaming machines and frittering it away on gambling and drinking.
He had already been given a chance after similar thefts were discovered but threw the kindness of Cartergate Social Club back in its face by continuing to thieve, a court heard.
Club chairman Peter Waters said: "It was a real shame because he was a dear friend for 14 years – he's not just let himself down but all the members as well.
"You have to put trust in your staff and although we suspected he had done it before, you can't just dismiss someone unless you are 100 per cent sure."
Darren Roche, 37, of Abbey Road, Grimsby, admitted stealing £3,577, belonging to Cartergate Social Club, between January 6 last year and January 5 this year.
Anthony Mowbray, prosecuting, told Grimsby Magistrates' Court that Roche had been in a position of trust as a steward at the club, which organised social events and ran bar facilities.
The treasurer realised "something was wrong" but it "took some time to get to the bottom of it all".
Roche pretended that cash from gaming machines was collected every two months, instead of every month, and he "pocketed the proceeds every other month".
The theft "put a substantial dent in their finances", said Mr Mowbray.
There had been previous theft incidents at the Grimsby club involving Roche but he had been given a chance and had not been charged.
Ed Bates, mitigating, said the thefts by Roche were a breach of trust but "it was a case of when, not if, he would be caught".
He had been "incredibly open" with his employers and the police. He made full admissions and it was a "relief to get it off his chest".
He originally took small amounts and intended to pay it back straight away but blew the money on alcohol and gambling problems.
"The problem then escalated and spiralled," said Mr Bates.
"Circumstances got out of control. The offending has gone on and he fully appreciates what he has done.
"He has been trying to make amends."
Roche, a steward at the club for about 14 years, had since found other work which did not involve handling cash.
His second marriage had collapsed because of the theft matter and he had moved back to his mother's home.
Roche, who had no previous convictions, was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work and was ordered to pay £3,577 compensation.
District judge Daniel Curtis told Roche: "Anybody who takes money from a small members' club, particularly in this day and age, must appreciate that they are not only stealing but breaching a trust imposed on them.
"What makes this matter worse is that the members of that club gave you a chance when you were found out in the past to have done this.
"It will affect your employability in future years.
"Members of that club can have some consolation that they will get their money back."
Mr Waters added: "The only good news from this is that we are going to get the cash back – it's a lot of money to us at a time when pubs and clubs are struggling."
Roche was ordered to pay back £120 a month. After the hearing, he declined to comment, saying only: "Everything has been said in court."
