Accountant embezzles £268,000 from Stoke golf club

Gambling addict James Cassidy used his position as accountant at Greenway Hall Golf Club near Stoke, UK, helped himself to £268,000 to fund his losses.

The £248,000 Hole

Police found Cassidy wagered over £242,156 with Paddy Power. They say the bookies always win but even Paddy Power must have been dancing all the way to the bank as Cassidy won only £44,904, creating a 'personal' loss of nearly £200k.

Cassidy has just been hit with a three-and-a-half- year prison sentence and the fraud left the club struggling to stay afloat and staff at the 18-hole course fearing for their futures.

Golf club director Deborah Burton today hit out at Cassidy's prison sentence.

Mrs Burton, said: "We are extremely disappointed at the leniency of the sentence. He was the ultimate con man who abused his position of trust. He provided false graphs and a statement showing how much was in the bank and I personally signed off every invoice and receipt. That did not stop him transferring money to himself.

"Everyone who came into contact with James Cassidy thought he was the most competent, trustworthy and honest guy. The shock has been profound. The golf club will carry on. Any other business would have closed as a result of his deceitful actions. There was no outward sign of anything untoward."

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the defendant operates his own company – James Cassidy Accounting Services – and was employed by the golf club in 2012 to handle the accounts.

The problems came to light when Mrs Burton and fellow director, Donald Burton, demanded to see the full accounts in January.

Prosecutor Robert Edwards said: "The defendant confessed he had taken about £240,000 from the golf club.

"He told Mr Burton he had a gambling addiction."

Further investigations found Cassidy took £268,973.71 from the club. It was later confirmed insurers will not refund the money.

Cassidy, who used to live in Newcastle, pleaded guilty to fraud between November 19, 2013 and January 26, 2016.

Hamish Noble, mitigating, said the defendant's gambling addiction started when he was 14 and grew with his earning ability.

Mr Noble said: "He did not try to deflect this on to anybody else. He is very sorry for what he has done and the impact it has had on the Burton family."

The court heard Cassidy will seek help from Gamblers Anonymous on his release from jail.

Judge Paul Glenn said: "You abused your position quite spectacularly. You transferred funds from the golf club's account to accounts that you held and you failed to bank takings from the bar and shop. The owners are out of pocket to the sum of more than £268,000. The staff would not have known if they had jobs to go back to.

"Your offending affected the whole future of a well-established and well-respected club

"His actions caused the family immense pain and hardship," sais Mrs Burton. It has badly affected staff morale and I do not feel I can ever trust anyone again."

Word up, Mrs Burton. But don't let this half-witted chancer doom your faith in human nature. Good luck getting Greenway Hall back on track.

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