A SOCIAL club steward who "drank heavily and gambled" disappeared with more than 15,000 of club funds, magistrates heard.

Malcolm Price, 35, of Mendip Heights, Didcot, was employed at Didcot Labour Club from April 1 last year until May 29 this year when he was responsible for banking all the club cash, writes Michael Hambleton.

Jenny Jonkheer, prosecuting, told Didcot court that at the end of May the club secretary was called when Price, who was well-liked, did not turn up for work.

The secretary looked at the accounts and saw that he had not been banking the money.

Price pleaded guilty to the theft of 15,304 from the club but the chairman Chris Tyndall said he would be remanded to Oxford Crown Court for sentence because of the seriousness of the offence. Mrs Jonkheer described the offence as a "breach of trust" it was alleged Price stole the money between the time he was taken on to run the bar as steward last year and the end of May this year.

Police were immediately notified and a warrant was put out for his arrest. Price surrendered at Didcot Police Station last week.

Mrs Jonkheer said: "He drank heavily and gambled and used the club's funds to make up his shortfall. He told police that he did not keep an account of what he had taken although when the figure of 15,000 was put to him he acknowledged that it could be correct."

Gordon Hotson, defending, said: "Certainly all the money bar 1,500 was admitted."

Price was remanded on unconditional bail and ordered to appear at Crown Court for sentencing on July 24.