Football club payroll worker faces jail

A football club worker from Dudley who stole more than £2,000 from the company was facing jail today.

Payroll worker James Turner, aged 35, overpaid himself by £2,125 while he worked at Worcester City FC.

Prosecutors say Turner, formerly of Coppice Lane, Netherton, was employed as an accounts assistant earning £140 per week at the club, which plays in the Blue Square North league.

Mr Vinny Bolina, spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "He began in early September last year and part of his responsibility was the payroll. He used the Autopay system which pays directly into the recipient's bank account.

"Between September and December he overpaid himself by £2,125 and had attempted to pay himself a further £700.

"That transaction was cancelled by the finance director."

Turner, who now lives in Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday to admit fraud. Turner, wearing a pink shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and to plead guilty to the charge during the brief hearing.

He was released on bail and reports will be drawn up before he is sentenced in the coming weeks. No-one at Worcester City Council was available for comment.