Sleaford treasurer guilty of theft

Sleaford Wheelers put new security measures in place after £8,000 theft

Former Sleaford Wheelers treasurer Richard Horton was jailed for 10 months for stealing nearly £8,000 from the club after pleading guilty at Lincoln Crown Court last month.

Horton, 52 and of Great Hale in Lincolnshire, took £7,923 from the club’s accounts over a 20-month period from March 2015 to November 2016.

“When we found out the news was greeted with shock, anger and sadness,” said club chairman Nigel Hurst. “This was a friend; someone we had all ridden with and shared club outings.”

Although the judge ordered the money to be paid back, the club had already regrouped, fundraising to pay debts and get their accounts back in the black.

An auction at their annual club dinner raised more than £1,000 thanks to gifts from local businesses, with items including a signed shirt and book from Laura and Jason Kenny.

Quiz nights, a 50-50 draw and longterm membership deals also helped top up the coffers, while grant funding has replaced money taken from the youth and Go-ride cycling section.

“Twelve months on from this, and we are now a stronger and wiser club,” added Hurst. “To stop this happening again we put in place a few safeguards.”

A non-committee member now has read-only access to the accounts, while monies handed to the treasurer must now be witnessed. Internet banking payments now need two authorisations, while monthly accounts are presented at committee meetings.

“Members could have turned away, but we have all stood together and rebuilt the club,” said Hurst. “We have learned a lot from what happened and have moved on. With the measures in place we feel confident this should not happen again.

“Our junior and youth section is going from strength to strength, as well as the members who continue to compete locally and nationally in time trials, road races, grass track and cyclo-cross. “Without the members’ trust and support this could not have happened, and as chairman I would like to thank all our members for helping get the club back on track.”

“Twelve months on and we are a stronger and wiser club”