CLUB MAN IN pounds 20K THEFT; Two-year bingo cash swindle.

Byline: By ANDREW PAIN

A CLUB committee man has been jailed for swindling nearly pounds 20,000 earmarked for taking pensioners and children on days out.

Andrew Frost took the money over a two-year period while serving on the committee of Longlands Social Club in Middlesbrough, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 41-year-old took the majority of his ill-gotten gains from the bingo coffers, which he would dip his hand into three times a week.

The court was told Frost would pay out to winners of the bingo but when he came to put the figures in the accounts book, he would claim he had paid out pounds 15 more than he did.

After doing this three times a week for two years between September 2005 and October 2007, Frost had managed to pocket pounds 15,600.

His scheme only came to light when another committee member took over the bingo for one night and realised the takings were much higher than when Frost was in charge, despite the club being no busier.

When they looked into the accounts, the committee also discovered pounds 1,157 missing from the children's fund, pounds 972 gone from the OAP's fund and pounds 1,460 taken from the lucky draw fund.

When confronted by the committee, Frost said: "OK, I admit it - I've been swindling the club."

The money taken came to a total of pounds 19,189.

Frost pleaded guilty to four charges of theft and one of false accounting.

His defence barrister, Michael Bosomworth, said: "No one is more disappointed and ashamed than Mr Frost.

"He was offered the position at the club, it was one he welcomed and threw himself into with enthusiasm.

"His life became centred around the club - he would go there every night and drink eight pints."

But the former postman who was now unemployed had got into debt.

He had visits from bailiffs and took money from the club to pay his debts.

Mr Bosomworth said: "He dipped into the fund he had under his control.

He said it was his intention to pay it back but it got so out of control, there was no chance of that."

Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox QC, said: "For two years you pocketed money which was not yours. It belonged to your fellow members and to a small extent it was charitable money, which gives the case a nasty flavour."

He jailed Frost, of Holly Street, Middlesbrough, for four months.