A LIEUTENANT commander in the Royal Navy has admitted stealing thousands of pounds in public donations from volunteer coastguards to fund his alcohol addiction.

Alcoholic Geoffrey Bennett was a treasurer at voluntary organisation Coastwatch Redcar when he helped himself to more than £5,000, which he spent on alcohol and tax for his car.

The 66-year-old wrote out cheques in the company name, as well as transferring money from the organisation into his own bank account.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that the naval commander gave into temptation when he took up the role of treasurer in May last year.

He pilfered the coastguards' funds for six months.

Steven Lancaster, prosecuting, said between May last year and February, he stole £2,400, which included £800 donated by regulars at a Teesside pub.

Coastwatch Redcar, which is connected to the Sea Safety charity and relies on public donations, was established in 1996 and operates on the Tees Bay coast, the third busiest port in the UK.

Volunteers provide back-up to HM Coastguard and in the past few years they have handled more than 200 incidents.

Mr Lancaster said Bennett, who is married, had previously worked for the organisation as a senior watcher before becoming treasurer.

He said: "When other officers became aware of the problem and realised there was considerable less money than should have been there, it was taken up with he defendant.

"At that point it was £7,000. He tried to buy himself some time by writing a cheque to reimburse the money, but it was drawn on a dormant account he held in the Channel Islands.

"He told police he had used the money to pay for bills and purchases for the society, but then started to take it for himself.

"He said he spent it on himself - and mostly on alcohol."

Anthony Moore, mitigating, said his client suffered from alcoholism and depression, but was of previous good character.

Judge Peter Fox told Bennett, of Redcar Road, Thornaby, near Stockton, he was "only just" sparing him from a prison sentence.

"I accept that you are thoroughly ashamed of your conduct, as you should be," he said.

The pensioner was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years, after admitting seven counts of theft and obtaining money by deception.