Charity puts out warning over accounts
Thursday, 26th October 2000.
HAVERHILL'S LAMPH charity has warned other groups to be on their guard after a former treasurer admitted stealing almost £10,000 from its funds.
Phillip Tilley, 34, formerly of Cambridge Way, Haverhill, admitted 36 charges of theft from LAMPH and Lloyds TSB when he appeared at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court on Thursday. He will be sentenced for the offences next month.
LAMPH has provided services for adults and children with disabilities in the Haverhill area for more than 20 years, receiving all proceeds from the annual Haverhill Show.
Committee members have been upset by the theft, but have issued a statement urging the town to rally round the group.
"LAMPH would like to take this opportunity to inform all those concerned that constraints have now been put in place to ensure this cannot happen again.
"We, the management committee, hope the confidence of all our supporters will not be affected by these happenings," said the statement.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to warn other small groups of the ease with which incidents like this can take place and the dangers involved in not having full financial controls in place."
Insp Mike Bacon, Haverhill's police sector commander, advised groups to review their accounting procedures to make sure they included regular auditing and that at least two signatures were needed to access money from an account.
"They need to be satisfied that people they are appointing are honest and trustworthy and if possible, to do spot checks," Insp Bacon said.
Phillip Tilley, 34, formerly of Cambridge Way, Haverhill, admitted 36 charges of theft from LAMPH and Lloyds TSB when he appeared at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court on Thursday. He will be sentenced for the offences next month.
LAMPH has provided services for adults and children with disabilities in the Haverhill area for more than 20 years, receiving all proceeds from the annual Haverhill Show.
Committee members have been upset by the theft, but have issued a statement urging the town to rally round the group.
"LAMPH would like to take this opportunity to inform all those concerned that constraints have now been put in place to ensure this cannot happen again.
"We, the management committee, hope the confidence of all our supporters will not be affected by these happenings," said the statement.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to warn other small groups of the ease with which incidents like this can take place and the dangers involved in not having full financial controls in place."
Insp Mike Bacon, Haverhill's police sector commander, advised groups to review their accounting procedures to make sure they included regular auditing and that at least two signatures were needed to access money from an account.
"They need to be satisfied that people they are appointing are honest and trustworthy and if possible, to do spot checks," Insp Bacon said.
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