A FOMER Ipswich pub landlord pleaded guilty today to charges of stealing the customers' Christmas club fund he was left in charge of.Andrew Ross, 38, who used to manage the Inkerman Pub, on Norwich Road, also pleaded guilty to charges of stealing the pub's takings and a Vauxhall Cavalier, which had been loaned to him for the day by a customer.

A FOMER Ipswich pub landlord pleaded guilty today to charges of stealing the customers' Christmas club fund he was left in charge of.

Andrew Ross, 38, who used to manage the Inkerman Pub, on Norwich Road, also pleaded guilty to charges of stealing the pub's takings and a Vauxhall Cavalier, which had been loaned to him for the day by a customer.

Prosecutor Sarah-Jane Atkins, said: "On December 11, 2002, Mr Pointer, the area manager for the Inkerman pub, was made aware the previous week's takings had not been banked.

"Attempts were made to contact the defendant and eventually he received a text message stating it would be put in the bank within the next few days.

"On December 14, the defendant contacted Mr Pointer to say his girlfriend would be putting the keys through the door of the pub as he no longer wanted to work there."

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard when the area manager finally entered the pub on December 16 there was no sign of the takings and some of the stock was missing.

Miss Atkins added: "The defendant ran the Christmas club and when customers went to the pub towards the end of the year to collect their savings they found it was missing.

"One of the customers, Samantha Clark, has five children and her Christmas was dealt a huge blow when she did not receive her savings."

It is believed an excess of £4,718 was in the funds when they were stolen.

It took police 18 months to track down Ross who does not have any previous convictions.

Mark Holt, defending, said: "He is a man of previous good character and has entered a guilty plea straight away."

The case will now be sent to Ipswich Crown Court for sentence.