A CLUB steward pocketed more than £1,400 and helped himself to stock, topping up a lager barrel with water.

Burnley magistrates heard how Charles McCann, 43, spent the spoils on the horses and "hit the bevy." He always intended paying the money back, but things got out of hand.

McCann, of Glengarth, Barnoldswick, formerly employed at Foulridge Workingmen's Club, was told the offences were at "the top of the scale," and prison had been considered.

McCann was sentenced to 200 hours' community service, after admitting furnishing false information relating to accounts and theft as an employee from his employer, between July 5, 1997, and June 30, 1998. He must pay £2,949 compensation.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said McCann was taken on as a steward in July 1997. He was responsible for writing daily takings on to cash sheets, putting takings and float into the safe and banking the takings.

In June, a committee member went to the club to meet Mr McCann for a stock take.

He got a note from McCann, which he did not quite understand, so he did the stock take on his own and took the administrative work home with him.

The next morning McCann admitted he had taken money from the club., but could not work that day because he was ill.

On July 1, the committee member spoke to the president and told him what had happened.

The four days' takings from Thursday to Sunday, £986.67, was missing and also a £300 float and £150 in tins from a club lottery and quiz.

A three-gallon barrel of lager was found to have been tampered with and filled up with water.

Mrs Reed said McCann told police he got into financial difficulty after lending money to a friend. He "juggled a few figures," and thought he could make it right by gambling, but made it worse.

McCann said he had filled the lager barrel using a hosepipe.He had got sick of taking money and wanted to finish it and for it to come out into the open. He was ashamed of what he had done.

Mrs Jan Darrington, defending, said McCann was unemployed and on benefits. He was looking for a job and was anxious to get employment so he would be in a position to pay compensation as soon as he could.

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