A THIEVING treasurer has insufficient means or assets to back anything to the workingmen’s club he frequently stole from, a court heard.

Gary Atkinson stole more than £37,000 belonging to Sacriston WMC, in September and early October, in 2019.

He received a 19-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a six-month 7pm to 6am home curfew, plus 30 probation activity days, at Durham Crown Court, in November.

The 42-year-old defendant, of Beechwood Close, Sacriston, admitted theft.

As suspicion fell on him for accruing losses in the club account, he even took more money on the morning he was to meett he committee to explain the shortfall.

Weeks earlier, secretary Stuart Pinkney noted no funds were paid into the club’s account for two weeks.

Atkinson passed it off as, “something to do with the bank”, which he claimed was looking into the problem.

He invented a supposed meeting at the bank to buy further time and failed to attend a subsequent meeting with the committee.

As he was evasive about a further meeting at the bank, police were informed.

A crime proceeds hearing, back at the court on Friday, was told the agreed benefit of his crime was £37,393, but as he has no available means or assets, Judge James Adkin made a nominal £1 compensation order, to be paid within seven days, with one day in prison, in default.