THE jury in the trial of a woman accused of stealing thousands of pounds from a youth football club and the Ministry of Defence is expected to consider its verdict tomorrow.

Natalie Ross, of Reedmace Road, Bicester, continued giving evidence at Oxford Crown Court today.

The 39-year-old, who was treasurer at Highfield Juniors FC and a book-keeper at Bicester Garrison, denies 17 counts of theft, obtaining by deception and false accounting between 2004 and 2007.

During cross-examination, Peter Coombe, prosecuting, said: “Because you weren’t managing to make ends meet on the incomes you legitimately earned you were helping yourself to money at work and from the football club.”

“Not at all,” replied Ross, who insisted she was not struggling financially at the time.

When she was asked why £33,000 in cash had gone into her bank account during the period, she added: “It was money I’ve got off my husband or was taken out of my building society account, or loans I’ve had.”

Craig Ross, Ross’s estranged husband, said he would leave maintenance payments of up to £500 in envelopes each month at the Hobgoblin pub in Bicester for Ross.

Ross’s father Brian Kelly said he had loaned his daughter £3,000 in cash in June 2007 to replace a central-heating system.

The jury earlier heard the balance of the football club’s current account had dwindled from £800 in August 2003 to £13 in June 2006.

During the same period, the club’s savings account went from £3,514 to £271.

Ross said the cost of fixing a boiler and low funds led her to transfer £1,500 from the savings account to the current account.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict after the judge sums up tomorrow morning.