Golf club secretary stole cash

A TRUSTED golf club secretary swindled her bosses out of cash that should have been used to develop services to all its members.

Brenda Beddoes (60), who had worked at Blackley Golf Club in North Manchester for eight years was responsible for customer accounts - including in-house cash cards that could be used to pay for food and drink in the clubhouse.

Manchester Crown Court was told that when members left, remaining credit on a card would be used for the benefit of the club if not reclaimed.

Byut managing secretary Beddoes, of Manor Road, Shaw, decided to put the money in her own private account.

Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, said that over two years from July 2012, she had taken £537.92 before missing amounts were queried.

When arrested and interviewed she adamantly denied wrongdoing and opted to go to trial. Last month she was convicted of fraud.

Sentencing her, Mr Recorder Osborne told her: “I am concerned at your reluctance to accept what you have done”, adding: “Perhaps you regarded it as a perk of the job. Though they may not have been large sums of money, this was a serious breach of trust.”

Beddoes had claimed someone else had taken the money, saying anyone could have accessed her computer to move the cash. She couldn’t explain why it ended up in her own account.

She was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay a total of £1,597.92, including compensation and costs.

A spokesman for the golf club said: “It was most unfortunate that Mrs Beddoes decided to betray the trust put in her by the club and its members.”