Bramford man jailed for stripping Sproughton social club of £27,000 made to pay back tiny fraction of the cash

A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Ipswich Crown Court today was told Leon Studd, who is currently serving a two year jail sentence for the £27,000 fraud, only had assets of £708.

David Wilson, prosecuting, told the court that although Studd’s benefit from his offending was £27,831 he only had £708 which was held in three bank accounts.

Judge David Goodin made a confiscation in the sum of £708 which will be paid as compensation to Sproughton and District Sports and Social Club.

Sentencing Studd in February, Recorder Jonathan Ashley-Norman said he had “completely exhausted” the club of its financial resources.

He said that as the fraud came to light Studd had doctored a bank statement and presented it to the club’s committee giving it a “wholly unreal” picture of its financial affairs.

Studd, of Leggatt Drive, Bramford, had admitted fraud by abuse of position over a five year period between January 2012 and May 2017.

The sentencing hearing heard that Studd, who didn’t have a financial background, had acted as voluntary treasurer of the club for 10 years before the police investigation.

During the fraud Studd had misled the club’s committee about the state of its finances and claimed that one account had more than £10,000 in it when the balance was only £356.

When the chairman checked the club’s other account, he discovered more than £12,000 was missing.

The court heard during the fraud Studd made 179 cash withdrawals totalling £11,200, 56 fuel purchases totalling £1,400 and 114 card purchases totalling £2,400.

Studd, who had gambling and drinking problems, also paid his £30 a month mobile phone bill out of one of the accounts.

After the offences came to light, he told police he used to go out seven days a week and the fraud had been an “easy way” to pay for it.

He also said he had been living beyond his means and used the money he stole to pay day to day living expenses.