RUGBY CLUB STEWARD ‘STOLE £38K’
ASTEWARD stole nearly £40,000 from a rugby club by processing fake refunds on busy days when no-one would notice, a court heard.
Richard Baggs, who was responsible for managing cash flow, denies stealing from Taff’s Well RFC between April 2014 and January 2017 and he is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Nicholas Gedge, prosecuting, said: “He was in a position of trust. He acted in breach of that trust through illegitimate use of the till refund system.”
The defendant, who was paid £21,000 a year, is accused of pocketing £38,290.60 in the two years and nine months between April 30, 2014, and January 1, 2017.
Prosecutors said Baggs was hired as steward in 2011 and his responsibilities included managing the club’s cash flow, ordering food and drink for the bar, and planning social functions.
The club made some changes to how the beer pipes were cleaned in spring 2016, aiming to reduce wastage and create a more efficient process.
The court heard a bookkeeper analysed the accounts following the introduction of the new system to see whether or not the anticipated savings were being made. Mr Gedge said: “She noticed some anomalies in the figures.”
Prosecutors said the records showed seven barrels of Theakston beer had been bought in May and June but a negative quantity had been sold.
Mr Gedge said that was “an impossibility”, adding: “The figures did not make any sense.”
The bookkeeper was concerned there might be an error in the electronic till system and the club contacted the person who supplied and maintained the tills.
He did not find any faults but he did notice a significant number of cash refund payments had been made.
Prosecutors said each member of staff had a fob so it was possible to trace who had processed the refunds.
The court heard total refunds of £33,500 were given by all members of staff between May 2015 and December 2016. Of those £29,500 worth were given by Baggs.
Mr Gedge said refunds between £1.70 and £1,005.05 were processed on the defendant’s fob and seemed to coincide with busy times at the club.
Baggs was suspended in December 2016 and dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing on January 2, 2017. He appealed the decision but his appeal was dismissed.
Police were informed and he was interviewed in March 2017 when he denied stealing money from the club.
Baggs, 43, from Coedpenmaen Road in Pontypridd, denies theft. He is represented by Emma Harris. The case is due to last for seven days.