THE chairman of a football team says justice has been done after its former secretary was jailed for milking club funds to pay for camping equipment and a stag do in Las Vegas.

A judge sentenced Riki Peter James Hughes to 16 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of fraud to the value of £17,000 from Tidworth Town Football Club during his time as club secretary.

Salisbury Crown Court heard that over a period of two years, the 31-year-old “pilfered” club money by setting up bogus rent payments to himself.

Judge Andrew Barnett said: “The fact of the matter is that he has behaved in a disgraceful manner by abusing his power in the football club.”

Sentencing the former Army Lance Corporal, who has done two tours of duty to Iraq, Judge Barnett told him: “You became secretary of the club in November 2011 and in effect you milked the funds of that club.

“You set up a bogus account in the name of the landlord and you effectively siphoned off the money into an account of which you had use.

“The community have been deceived by someone they have trusted.”

Jeremy Wright, prosecuting, told the court how over the course of two years 72 transactions were made into the false account, amounting to a sum of at least £13,000 and potentially up to £28,000.

A figure of £17,275.81 was agreed in court.

Hughes justified some of his actions as claiming expenses but the football club disputed that he was allowed to claim the money and the court heard that no correct records were kept.

While the dad-of-two splashed out on camping equipment and a stag do to Las Vegas the club has said it could have spent the cash on its youngsters.

Chairman Dave Ball told the Advertiser: “We could have had better facilities, better kit and equipment. It is more of a disappointment that someone could do this to the children.

“From a club point of view the justice system has worked and we are looking forward to moving on to bigger and better things.”

The club now has 180 members, from under fives to adults and has recently received sponsorship from Connolly SPAR for new kit.

Anne Brown, defending, described how Hughes spent nine years in the Army, joining at 17, and got himself into debt which “spiralled out of control”.

Miss Brown said: “It is a role he took on to help people out but due to a lack of ability to cope with the money he got himself into difficulty.

“He wishes to say sorry to everyone involved in the club.”

Hughes was also welfare officer of Test Way Youth League, but recently resigned from that role.