Topic: Two Jailed Over £70,000 Theft From Chorley FC

[chorleydave]

A FORMER football club accountant and another man have been jailed from stealing more than £70,000 from Chorley FC in a series of thefts and burglaries.

Philip Haslam, 26, of Weldbank Lane, had pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and two of burglary.

Haslam, who was the club’s accountant at the time of the thefts, was jailed for 21 months while Daniels was handed a two-year prison sentence.

The thefts involved taking £6,000 belonging to Chorley Football Club’s black and white draw between dates in March and September 2011.

Another theft charge concerned nearly £41,000 belonging to Chorley Football Club and £22,000 belonging to Chorley Sporting Club.

The burglaries involved Haslam entering Chorley FC’s social club in September 2011 and on one occasion, stealing £1,000 and on the other, £300 in cash.

Ian Daniels, 25 admitted three counts of counselling or procuring the theft of 
money totalling £69,156.66 from Chorley FC and Chorley Sporting Club at Preston Crown Court on the day he was due to stand trial.

He also admitted counselling or procuring two burglaries of the Chorley FC offices acquiring criminal property totalling £50,321 and converting criminal property to the value of £14,000.

Haslam was arrested in September 2011 after club officials noticed financial irregularities and called police.

Daniels was arrested and charged later last year.

Club chairman Ken Wright welcomed the sentences saying they represented ‘closure’ after a difficult period at the club.

He said: “They deserved custodial sentences and I’m glad they got locked up.

“A lot of people who are involved with the club, officials and supporters have been waiting for the outcome of this trial, because the club means a lot to these people.

“It was a real financial blow to Chorley FC but fans and the business community rallied round to support us in the aftermath.

“Now this is out of the way and justice has been served we can look forward with positivity.”

http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/news/10369166.Two_jailed_over___70_000_theft_from_Chorley_FC/?ref=la

[Simon]

A good day for justice!

[Clive]

Indeed!

[chorleydave]

More details in this Lancashire Evening Post report:

Two men have been jailed for a theft which left Chorley FC £70,000 out of pocket.

Philip Haslam, 25, of Weldbank Lane, Chorley, and Ian Daniels, 26, of Wymundsley, Astley Village appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Former club accountant Haslam hung his face in his hands as Judge Christopher Cornwall sentenced him to 21 months. Haslam had pleaded guilty to the three counts of theft and two counts of burglary at a previous hearing.

In March, co-defendant Daniels pleaded guilty to three counts of counselling or procuring the theft of £69,156 between March and September 2011 from Chorley FC. He also admitted to the two burglaries from the Chorley FC offices totalling £4,000, acquiring criminal property totalling £50,321 and converting criminal property to the value of £14,000. He was jailed for 24 months.

Court heard Daniels, who wore a bright blue jumper, had started off asking Haslam for money. Daniels had claimed that he was expecting a financial windfall and because they were distant relations, Haslam agreed to lend his savings which eventually totalled £25,000.

The situation spiralled out of control and led to more demands for money. Court heard Haslam had been coerced into taking the money from the club.

Judge Cornwall described how Mr Haslam had been “a man of previous good character which was now lost.”

He added: “I find it difficult to come to terms with how you could do it. Mr Haslam did not talk to his parents about it and instead deal with it himself but put himself in a worse position.” Addressing Daniels, Judge Cornwall added: “It all started to come about from gambling addictions and an insatiable need for money and his tendency to live in a fantasy world.”

Speaking after the case, Chorley FC club chairman Ken Wright said: “The perpetrators have got their comeuppance with a custodial sentence for the crime.

“At the time of the offence the club was under severe financial pressure.

“We rode through with the help and support of our creditors and local businessmen but now we have some closure.”

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/pair-jailed-over-70k-theft-from-sports-club-1-5601208