Treasurer stole funds from club (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Treasurer stole funds from club

Upset . . . chairman of Plaum's Pit Angling Club Derek Cooke (right) with head bailiff Les Arblaster at Plaum's Pit behind the Manor pub in Rodbourne CheneyAN ANGLING club treasurer stole thousands of pounds of the money he was supposed to be looking after, a court has heard.

Members of Plaum's Pit Angling Club have told the Evening Advertiser how betrayed they felt by the crimes of Craig Dus.

Dus, 34, of Frobisher Drive, Walcot, pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court to eight charges three of theft, two of forgery and three of false accounting.

The offences happened between 2000 and last year.

The prosecution and defence have yet to agree on precisely how much money was stolen by Dus, but he will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, May 10, after reports about him have been prepared.

But so plausible was he that, according to one club official, grateful members once gave him a gift of £100 as a token of appreciation for his work as treasurer.

The club has a lake near the Manor pub in Cheney Manor Road, stocked with fish such as perch, roach, tench, rudd, carp and pike.

Chairman Derek Cooke said: "We were very upset by what Mr Dus did because we are a club with about 250 members, many of whom are juniors and senior citizens."

The club's head bailiff, Les Arblaster, 59, said the financial irregularities came to light when senior club officials visited their bank to inspect financial details.

Mr Arblaster said: "They expected to find about £14,000, but there was only £66.

"What that man did was to jeopardise the enjoyment of more than 200 people.

"The worst thing is that he must have been laughing at us.

"He even received a £100 cheque in thanks for his services."

Mr Cooke said: "We decided that there was no way the club was going to go under.

"I was prepared to pay last year's lease fee to the council, which was £1,040, myself."

However, this turned out not to be necessary, as the club's bank, which had unknowingly accepted forged cheques, said it would refund some of the stolen money.

Mr Cooke added: "The members are totally gutted by this, but the club does not have a financial problem.

"Membership fees are currently being renewed, so we have funds."

The club hosts regular competitions, as well as taking part in competitions organised by other clubs, and also hosts special introductory days for people wanting to try what is Britain's most popular sport.

Anybody wishing to join or find out more about the club is invited to inquire at Swindon Angling in Sheppard Street or the Hinders store at Manor Garden Centre in Cheney Manor.