Previous treasurer of Waveney gymnastics club is spared prison for gambling 99,000 of group funds

Sentencing Colin Price to an 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years, Recorder John Foy stated he had left an instant jail sentence by the skin of his teeth.

Recorder Foy informed Price, who was a founding member of Waveney Gymnastics Club at Lowestoft and won awards for his contributions to the club, he had actually committed a serious breach of trust including between 99,000 to 106,000.

He said as an outcome of Prices dishonesty, member’s club fees had been increased and jobs to replace heating and lighting had actually been postponed.

Throughout the sentencing hearing the judge was informed Price remained in the procedure of selling his the home of enable him to pay back the club in full.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing will happen in the next couple of months.

Rate, 59, of Heather Gardens, Belton, and Great Yarmouth admitted scams by abuse of position between 2011 and 2015.

Russell Butcher, prosecuting, stated Price had actually helped establish Waveney Gymnastics Club, which was a signed up charity, in 1976.

At the time of the fraud he was a director and treasurer of the club and was accountable for the club’s finances.

In August last year concerns were raised by an independent accountant about the club’s finances and Price claimed he had invested 57,000 of the club’s money, but refused to give any information.

Price consequently admitted spending club funds on web gambling and was suspended from the club.

Rate admitted taking 106,000, but Mr. Butcher stated he was just accused of scams in relation to 99,000.

Peter Spary for Price described the case as sad and tragic.

He stated the offence had actually been dedicated from desperation after his customer s illness resulted in joblessness, financial obligations and depression.

To conquer his diminishing bank balance he foolishly decided to gamble and to dip his hand in the club’s cookie jar in an effort to gamble his escape of debt, said Mr. Spary.

He said this had resulted in a gambling dependency during which Price had bet away a huge quantity of the club’s funds.

He stated for more than 20 years Price had actually committed 20 hours a week to the club and was associated with an effective lotto quote which resulted in an Olympic standard centre with cutting-edge facilities being finished in 2002.

Rate had actually consequently won a number of awards, consisting of collectively winning the most important contribution to sport award with club director John Pawsey at the Waveney Sports Awards in 2008.

In 2010/2011, Price was honored with the most important contribution to sport award at the Active Waveney Sports Awards for his immeasurable importance to the club, its directors, its staff and all those that go to.

At the East Region Gymnastics Association s annual discussion awards night in 2011, Price was again honored as he won the volunteer award for his dedication, time and guidance at the club over more than 20 years.

Mr. Spary said when Price admitted exactly what he had done the news was met with complete shock by everybody who had actually trusted him.

Mr. Spary explained Price, who strolls with a frame, as an entirely busted male.

He said people who had supplied character references said the offence was out of character and described Price as an upstanding member of the neighborhood.

Another character witness described Price as a great male who made a dreadful error.