Boss on £72k stole £700k to buy luxury cars, trips and horses
John Briers, 57, of South Shields, was jailed for seven years for paying cheques for Age Concern into his own account and awarding himself unauthorised bonuses
A CHARITY boss stole £700,000 to buy luxury cars, holidays and horses over nearly nine years.
John Briers, 57, paid cheques for Age Concern into his own account and awarded himself unauthorised bonuses on top of his £72,000 salary.
At one stage he was diverting 20 per cent of the charity’s income.
His crimes had a devastating effect on the charity - six staff were made redundant and four had their hours reduced.
And it suffered a further £600,000 loss in legal fees and reduced donations and has been left leading a "hand-to-mouth" existence.
The married dad-of-three, who worked at the charity for 21 years, was caught after finance boss Graham Cassidy spotted a dodgy looking invoice in 2015.
He was suspended and the police were called in.
Mr Cassidy told Newcastle crown court that Mr Briers: “liked the best of everything".
"He holidayed at the Sandals resort in Barbados and then after that Dubai became his favourite destination.
"His three children had cars and horses.
"He made sure his family wanted for nothing while he was stealing from some of the most vulnerable people in society."
Judge Timothy Gittins who said: "These were truly staggering amounts.
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"Your salary - which was a handsome one - was equalled and sometimes dwarfed by the sums you were taking dishonestly.
"It equated to 15 to 20% of the gross income of the charity.
"The conclusion I am driven to is that you acted out of pure selfish greed to cushion with extravagance your life and that of your family now and into a planned retirement.
"Undoubtedly there has been a wider loss to the community which may take years to repair."
Briers, of South Shields, denied fraud but was found guilty and jailed for seven years.
