A football club manager pocketed cash from players and club members which was supposed to pay for Christmas drinks.

A court heard how Samuel Turner later resigned from the Kelvedon Social Football Club after writing dud cheques to pay for debts he had run up.

Turner was appointed manager of the club in October 2003 and was given cash to buy equipment and pay fees.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard over a two-month period that year, Turner made out cheques for £160, £70, £50 and £250 to cover cash he had received from the club but all the cheques were dishonoured.

Richard Kelly, prosecuting, said Turner also handed over a cheque for £2,470 in relation to a supposed "sponsorship deal" and to clear debts but that cheque was also dishonoured.

The cheques had been written out on a "closed account" belonging to Turner's partner, who knew nothing about it, the court heard.

Mr Kelly said Turner also collected £1 every Wednesday and Sunday from players and members to pay for Christmas drinks.

Mr Kelly said: "He would take the money home with him and there should have been about £250 in the Christmas pot, but he treated it like his own and spent the money."

Turner resigned in January last year.

Turner, 29, of Berechurch Road, Colchester, admitted five charges of making false cheques, one theft charge and one of evading a liability by deception. He was given a 200-hour unpaid work order, told to pay £770 compensation to the club plus £570 costs.

Stephen Rose, mitigating, said Turner was in financial difficulties at the time because of a business failure and personal debts. He was "buying himself time" when he sent the cheques to the football club in the hope he could eventually repay the money.

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Published Wednesday, December 7, 2005

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