The future of the Kington St Michael Club and Institute is in jeopardy after former treasurer Timothy Doel plundered more than £16,000 for his own use.

The 29-year-old used his role as treasurer to steal for more than two years, leaving the club, which has 300 members, at risk of bankruptcy.

Chairman John Martin said: “If it was down to determination alone and the will of the community I would say we will continue. But if it comes down to the thousands of pounds we owe it is far too hard to call.

“We were completely vulnerable because he was in the community and his was a trusted position.

“I just hope we can get through this but, as a result, the next four or five years will be tough.”

When Mr Martin joined the club in 2006 Doel was already on the committee and gave no reason for other members to suspect his betrayal. Mr Martin said: “He was quite a quiet chap and he always struck me as not being particularly confident when speaking to a group.

“He would mumble his way through meetings but he was always very personable and credible as an accountant.

“He established himself in the community very comfortably.

“Tim was very into horse riding and, knowing that his family are quite well off, he fitted the image – I never questioned it at all. We didn’t know we were paying for the pleasure of him entering equestrian races – but we do now.”

It was not until November 2008 when the committee saw a credit card statement from the previous year, which had charges to companies such as lovefilm.com and for organic food boxes, that they became suspicious of Doel.

Mr Martin and the club secretary then approached HSBC to request copies of credit card and bank statements without Doel’s knowledge.

The chairman said: “On reviewing these documents it was obvious what was happening.

“When we looked at the bank statements, there was money being transferred into accounts we could not identify. It was quite a horrifying picture.”

The committee held a meeting on February 24, 2009, which Doel attended. He was unable to explain the figures and the committee contacted the police.

Doel was jailed on Friday, but the club is unlikely to ever see its money again.

Mr Martin said: “With my hat on as chairman the money is far more beneficial to us than him being in jail.

“But what he did to us was black and white and I am glad the system has seen it through.”

Money frittered on luxuries -

Jailing Timothy Doel for eight months on Friday, Judge Carol Hagen said it was difficult to imagine a greater breach of trust.

Doel, of Startley, near Malmesbury, pleaded guilty to obtaining a money transfer by deception, fraud and two counts of making or supplying an article for fraud.

In total he pocketed £16,142 between May 2006 and February last year.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for stealing from work from 2001.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Doel took over as treasurer in May 2006 and almost immediately started to steal.

Mr Meeke said that Doel had been using the money for his own purposes making payments to his own account, entering equestrian events, paying for a car to be unclamped and entering accountancy exams that he never sat.

Alex Daymond, defending, said Doel appeared to be unable to manage his own finances which is what led to the offences.

He said at first Doel used the money to pay off debts but as time went on came to used it for other things.

The pattern seems to be that this man has difficulties settling his debts. It didn’t start with him buying luxury items though it ended with that,” said Mr Daymond.

Despite the offences, Mr Daymond said Doel still had a job in an accountancy position and still hoped to take his professional exams.