THE long-time treasurer of Wellington Conservative Club could face up to four years in jail after siphoning off more than £50,000 of club funds.

Kevin Aylott, 63, of Sylvan Road, Wellington, admitted to the fraud, which took place over more than four years, when he appeared at Taunton Deane Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (September 8).

Magistrates heard from defence lawyer Phil Boyce that Aylott, who walks with a crutch and was recently diagnosed with cancer in both lungs, has “a serious alcohol problem and a gambling problem”.

Aylott’s fraud was only uncovered after he was forced to hand over the books when he went into hospital and a stand-in noticed discrepancies in the accounts.

It is believed he made cheques out to himself and recorded them as ‘cancelled’ as his deceit went undetected by fellow members of Wellington Conservative Club, where he had been treasurer for 23 years.

After being accused in court of failing to safeguard or not act against the financial interests of the club and dishonestly abusing his position to make a gain for himself, Aylott pleaded guilty to stealing £52,009.48 between April 2011 and November last year.

Magistrates said they did not have sufficient powers to sentence him and the case will go before a judge at Taunton Crown Court on September 30.

Mr Boyce’s request for a pre-sentence report was turned down by magistrates,

who added that the judge handling the case in crown court could imprison Aylott for between 18 months and four years or hand down a suspended sentence.

A long-standing Freemason, Aylott, who has no previous convictions and is single and lives with his elderly mother, was released on unconditional bail.

It is understood he fraudulently wrote more than 40 cheques before he was found out and detectives working on the case after being alerted by club officers discovered even more cash had been stolen than originally thought.