A TRUSTED treasurer ruined his good reputation and standing in his home village by stealing community centre funds.

Jeffrey Dean, a founder member and treasurer of Quarrington Hill Community Centre, near Durham, failed to bank all its income and spent the money repaying his own bills.

Durham Crown Court was told that during an eight-year period Dean sifted off £13,000 of community centre money.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said it came to light recently when the community centre committee made an application for a charitable grant backed up by bank statements, which revealed the shortfall.

Dean, a respected member of the community in Quarrington Hill, immediately owned up and repaid the money with interest within a week.

The 53-year-old former colliery banksman and delivery driver, admitted theft and was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

Passing sentence, assistant recorder Tom Bayliss said that, as the money was paid back quickly, and because of his previous unblemished character, he would not jail Dean.

Jeremy Hargrove, mitigating, said Dean, a married father-of-three, of Neil Crescent, Quarrington Hill, held positions on the local workingmen's club committee, parish council and primary school governing board.

On spending some of the money, he had intended to pay it back, but it "snowballed out of control"