THE treasurer of a bowling club that had closed after a devastating arson attack stole more than £20,000 from its accounts after falling into a gambling addiction.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Charles McFarlane, 56, abused his position at Eccleston Bowling Club, to transfer more than £15,000 into his own account.
He used more than £4,000 to fund a cruise holiday and made payments at pubs, including the Black Bull, and also in Southport and the Lake District.
A judge branded it “an appalling and unforgivable abuse of trust for a club that had already suffered so much”.
Cecilia Pritchard, prosecuting, told the court that the fraud came to light after the club’s chairman Julian Cliffe had tried to close the business in 2024, and distribute remaining funds to the 600 shareholders following the arson attack at the Knowsley Road club in March 2020.
The club’s accounts had remained open due it taking a considerable amount of time to resolve insurance payments, she said.
Ms Pritchard said it was discovered that McFarlane had made 12 transactions to his own account, totalling more than £15,000.
The payments were listed as ‘honorarium’ but no such payments had ever been approved, the court heard at McFarlane’s sentencing on Wednesday afternoon, November 11.
McFarlane, of Grafton Street, West Park, had the role of esteemed treasurer at the club since 2011, and had pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at a magistrates’ court hearing last month.
Ms Pritchard said that Mr Cliffe had asked McFarlane for financial statements, which he failed to provide.
When Mr Cliffe accessed the records himself, he found the 12 unauthorised payments totalling £15,850, ranging from £350 to £5,100.
Further investigation revealed a payment of more than £4,200 to a cruise company in August 2023.
Ms Prichard said McFarlane, who was the only person with access to the club's bank card, also used stolen money for drinks at pubs, including some in the Lake District.
These transactions matched the timing of Facebook posts on McFarlane’s profile about holidays in the area.
Ms Pritchard told the court that, at one stage, Mr McFarlane suggested all directors should resign and shareholders could then claim their payments in a “ploy to avoid detection”, as it depended on shareholders actively seeking the money.
In total, McFarlane defrauded the club of £20,071.90 between July 2023 and July 2025.
He was arrested on March 7 this year after Mr Cliffe had reported the theft to police.
David Birrell, defending, said his client was “under no illusions, he knows how serious this is”.
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He asked for credit for his early guilty plea and said McFarlane is deeply remorseful and has “strong personal mitigation”, as he asked the judge to suspend his prison sentence.
Mr Birrell provided an explanation for his client’s offending and said it was a "botched attempt to make up his gambling losses."
Mr Birrell said “It isn’t an excuse and not an attempt to minimise. It has to do with gambling which Your Honour knows is a societal problem.
“Lots of people, especially men, have gambling problems.
“He has always gambled but following the death of his parents he developed an addiction. Like most addicts, he didn’t realise he was addicted until it was too late.
"He was gambling his wages, losing his wages, trying to cover it up from his wife and he stole the money in a futile attempt to make up for his losses."
The court heard McFarlane had worked as a butcher for 38 years and was described by his employer as "reliable, punctual and good with the customers” and he is still trusted with the key to the business.
Mr Birrell said McFarlane has two adult daughters, both of whom work as prison officers and supported him in court.
"He had to have a difficult conversation with them about what he did and they had to disclose that."
The barrister added that McFarlane has since taken steps to address his gambling problem, including installing anti-gambling software on his phone and even making one of his daughters his power of attorney, giving her control of his finances.
He also told the court that McFarlane had tried to repay £19,500, the amount he understood he had stolen, back to the club in January, but the payment did not go through.
He has now agreed to repay the full amount once his parents’ house is sold.
Mr Birrell added that sending McFarlane to jail would have a “significant harmful impact on his wife. She has got mental health problem, he is the breadwinner.”
Passing sentence judge Recorder Harriet Johnson said to McFarlane, who sat in the dock wearing glasses and a light blue shirt: "Your addiction does go some way to explain your offending but it does not excuse it."
She said McFarlane’s decision to hand power of attorney to his daughter "offered reason to be hopeful for your future."
The judge said: “I have given careful consideration as to whether your sentence can be suspended,” and noted he is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and poses no risk of harm to others.
She said: “I am only just satisfied that a suspended sentence is appropriate. That is not to say you are getting off lightly.”
She said, after trial, McFarlane would have been given a 27-month sentence, reduced to 18 months for his guilty plea, and suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month probation programme.
A compensation order was made and McFarlane must also repay the stolen funds within 24 months.
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