A FORMER employee admitted stealing thousands of pounds from a social club in Colchester.

James Collard, 28, of Market Close, Colchester, stole almost £5,000 from the Belle Vue Social Club, off Colne Bank Avenue, over a nine month period.

Collard was spared jail despite it being the second time he has stolen from his place of work.

Collard would open up a Duo Lottery gaming machine and remove cash.

He would then put the cash back in the machine to try in the hope of getting winning lottery tickets.

When successful he would open the safe to make sure there was enough money and then claim his winnings.

He was eventually caught and admitted one count of theft by employee at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He carried out the scam between July 2013 and April 2014.

David Bryant, prosecuting, said: “Sandra Knight, the secretary at the social club, called police and reported Collard had been opening up the machine for a number of months on a number of occasions.

“He used the money to play the machine and would claim winnings from the safe.”

Collard worked there as a cleaner and barman for three years.

He claimed to have won £1,000 legitimately but admitted what he had been doing when questioned by police.

The court heard he used £2,293 from the machine and cost the club another £2,600.

He claimed he needed the money to help pay for his young family.

In 2007 Collard was caught stealing clothes from TK Maxx within a week of working there as a contract cleaner.

On that occasion he was ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work.

This time he was jailed for 12 weeks suspended for a year.

He was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Chairman of the bench Michael Ferrier also ordered him to pay £2,600 in compensation to the club, at a rate of £100 a month £315 costs and charges.

However he was let off the £2,293 he had stolen and put back into the machine.

It is the second time in four years the club has had to bring in police because of thefts.

Mrs Knight said: "When confronted he could not believe the total because it was small amounts over a period of time.

"It is every single member who loses out. It was money that could have been put back into the club.

"He cashed tickets which could have been won by members. He effectively stole from every member.

"He obtained the key to the machine through deceit.

"This has had a huge impact on his family.

"His mum worked behind the bar, his dad helped out, the grandchildren and his child would come here.

"They must be devastated.

"It is disappointing not to get the full amount back but £100 per month will be fantastic for the club given the financial situation.

"He had no choice but to plead guilty because there was so much evidence.

"The CCTV, machine logs and the gaming company were very helpful."