Shropshire netball official stole £50,000 to fund debts and gambling

Chartered accountant Hannah O'Neill, of Station Road, Donnington, Telford, was responsible for collecting club fees and paying the bills for Shrewsbury and District Netball League.

The 38-year-old admitted five offences of dishonesty between 2011 and 2015 at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.

Miss Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said matters came to light after the new treasurer Karen Holliday found there was a £2,500 deficit in the accounts.

"Members were informed that O'Neill was approached about this and she admitted that she had taken money and promised that she would pay it back.

"Mrs Holliday was nominated to investigate the matter. She got the bank statements and carried out an audit of the accounts," she said.

The court heard that Mrs Holliday estimated that about £10,000 in the previous financial year could not be accounted for and that the defendant had stolen about that amount in previous years by transferring money into her own account.

Miss Hall said that O'Neill was the league's treasurer for a decade.

"During the time in question she had full control over the bank account.

In her interview she said that in 2010 she had trouble paying her tax bill so she borrowed a quantity of money knowing that it was wrong to do so and had intended to pay it back. She admitted that she had a gambling addiction.

She said her problems snowballed as she would take more money and repay it, but it was never enough. She attempted to cover her tracks by paying money into her own account using false payee references," Miss Hall added.

The bench transferred the case to Shrewsbury Crown Court on a date to be fixed. O'Neil was granted unconditional bail.