Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A former treasurer who abused her position of trust to steal more than £200,000 from a long-established Devon charity over a nine-year period has been convicted of fraud.
Geraldine Coates, 59, was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court of dishonestly abusing her position as treasurer of the Honiton and District Agricultural Association between April 2009 and August 2018. She is due to be sentenced later this month and has been warned by the trial judge that the offence is likely to result in an immediate custodial sentence.
The court heard that Coates, who ran an accountancy business in Honiton while serving as the charity’s treasurer, gradually gained control of the organisation’s finances, including its accounts, cheque books and financial records.
Police say she used that trusted position to transfer charity funds for her own benefit, including payments towards personal expenses such as credit card bills and holidays.
Detective Constable A…
