A CRICKET club barman stole £4,000 from the till over an 18-month period, a court heard.

Anthony Appleton worked behind the bar at Kendal's Netherfield Cricket Club where he took money from the till on at least three occasions.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard his crime was unearthed after an accountancy firm found discrepancies in the takings at the cricket club bar.

Appleton was eventually found out after the club's chairman conducted his own investigations. 

Appleton, 51, admitted theft when he appeared before the court.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the offence occurred between May 1 2021 and November 6 2022.

He told the court: "This is a case of theft by an employee.

"The defendant worked behind the bar. He had worked there since 2018.

"The chairman is responsible for the bar.

"He was made aware by an accountancy firm of large discrepancies between stocks and cash.

"He looked on CCTV and saw that on three separate occasions the defendant was taking money from the till and placing it in his trouser pocket.

"He confronted the defendant and he initially denied it."

Mr Dacre said Appleton was later interviewed by police and told them he was struggling with debt having not been working during the pandemic.

The court heard Appleton had 16 previous offences on his record.

In mitigation, Leah Kirk said Appleton was 'aggrieved' at not being paid by the Parkside Road cricket club during lockdown and had considered himself a contracted employee.

She said: "He's remorseful for this act.

"He considered these people friends and he's lost that relationship now."

Following a discussion with the probation service, Appleton was sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid work under the terms of a community order.

The defendant, of Caroline Street, was also ordered to pay the £4,000 back to the cricket club in compensation.