A CROOKED accountant stole more than £30,000 within months of joining a charity for the blind as a volunteer treasurer, a court heard.

Karen Iley, of Garden Street, Darlington, was yesterday jailed for a year for what a judge described as "pilfering on a large scale" and "a blizzard of dishonest acts".

The 51-year-old stole the money from the Darlington and District Talking Newspaper to pay off debts from her ailing accountancy firm.

She also gave £20,000 from the charity's funds to her partner so he could buy a new car, Richard Cowan, prosecuting, told Tees-side Crown Court.

The court heard that the charity's bank account fell from almost £40,000 to below £10,000 after Iley's appointment in April last year.

Recorder Peter Johnson told her: "As a result of your acts - which will no doubt arouse anger and disgust for many people in Darlington, and arouse their contempt for you - the position of this charity is very bleak, indeed."

The charity's volunteers read and record The Northern Echo, the Advertiser Series, the Darlington and Stockton Times and magazines for people who are visually-impaired.

Last night, Paul Greenwood, chairman of the charity, which is based at The Northern Echo offices, in Darlington, said: "We welcomed Karen Iley to the voluntary post of treasurer after completing our usual security procedures, and we trusted her with access to funds kindly donated by individuals and organisations, which we rely on to support our work.

"Unfortunately, we have been victims of a fraud and this has left us very angry that public funds have been misused by Karen Iley.

"We have co-operated with the police fully in their investigation and are pleased with the outcome. Our trustees will be meeting to discuss the outcome."

He added: "It has been a nightmare for all the people in the organisation.

"It is the strength of everyone in the organisation that has got us through."

"Darlington Talking Newspaper will continue in its work, despite this setback, with many thanks to our hard-working volunteers and our many generous supporters and friends."

Iley, who ran her accountancy business, Iley Associates, from offices in Garden Street, off North Road, wept throughout the hearing.

She admitted the theft of £30,996 from the charity between last July and September, and the theft of £1,557 from Business Referral Exchange North.

She also pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false representation to make a gain of £2,056 by the fraudulent use of a cheque last August.

Anthony Moore, mitigating, told Mr Recorder Johnson that the £20,000 Iley gave her partner had been repaid to the charity after he took out a loan.

Mr Moore said: "She maintains throughout that the joining of the charity was with the best of motives.

"There was no ulterior motive for her doing so.

"When applying, she had no idea of the situation of the charity, or, indeed, what funds or what access to them she would necessarily have.

"She did, however, have access and on one occasion, in order to rob Peter to pay Paul, she drew one of the cheques.

"Unfortunately, she would accept, she found it an easy thing to do and with increased pressures elsewhere she did it, as we can see, on a number of occasions."