A 'valued' finance manager for a military veterans' sailing club stole almost £70,000 to fund her gambling and drug habit, a court has heard.
Her betrayal had an 'emotional impact' on the organisation as she had been part of the club 'since childhood' because her father and brother also worked there, Portsmouth Crown Court was told. Lyndsey Howell, 39, left members of the historic Hornet club in 'disbelief' after she plundered their finances for her own use over a 22-month period
'Her manager noticed she had been paid two days early, Howell claimed it was an error but it led him to investigate further. The mother-of-two defrauded the non profit organisation - founded 60 years ago for veterans by Naval officers - to support her gambling as well as alcohol and cocaine habits 'Howell was employed as a financial services manager, her involvement in the club goes back to childhood, her father, Stewart Peters, is the marina manager.'RAdm Stokes, who was sat in the public gallery, added that the club had managed to 'withstand' the financial loss but the ordeal had caused 'anxiety' for older club members.