THOUSANDS of pounds were stolen by a students’ union events manager to fund his gambling addiction, a court heard.

Vaughan Smith was yesterday given a suspended prison sentence after admitting taking £16,874 while overseeing marketing and events at Durham Students’ Union.

He was responsible for booking bands and DJs to perform at the union’s Dunelm House premises, in New Elvet, Durham.

Smith asked event promoters using the venue to make cash deposits rather than a previous cheque payment arrangement.

Durham Crown Court heard that he told them that if they asked for a receipt they would be charged VAT.

Steven Orange, prosecuting, said Smith asked for additional cash payments to cover security and other costs on the night of events.

But when suspicions arose, as a result of discontent over the amount taken on events staged at Dunelm House, Smith went to each promoter suggesting that, if asked, they should state that the change to cash deposits was made at their behest rather than at his request.

Smith, who became the union’s events and marketing manager on January 3, 2006, was suspended in mid-May last year. Police were told a month later, and he offered his resignation in July last year.

When arrested, in November, he made denials, but after being asked about unexplained entries into his bank account, he confessed and admitted keeping cash deposit money.

Smith, 44, of Lovaine Terrace, North Shields, North Tyneside, admitted three theft charges.

Judge Brian Forster said: “It’s clear he was gambling throughout.”

Mr Orange responded: “But, clearly, not very successfully”.

During 13 days in April last year, Smith lost £2,834 with an online bookmaker.

His losses far exceeded winnings, despite pocketing £900 on Sunderland winning the Football League Championship, and £800 on a Newcastle casino poker night.

Paul Caulfield, mitigating, said he has sought help for his gambling addiction and was no longer betting.

He said Smith subsequently resigned from a similar job at Newcastle University because of “adverse publicity”

over the Durham conviction.

As a result, he went 12- weeks without income and is now on benefit, facing repossession of his home after falling behind with mortgage repayments.

He was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 15 months, during which time he will undergo probation supervision.

Judge Forster, who described it as, “a gross breach of trust”, ordered him to perform 100-hours’ unpaid work and pay the £285 contents of his frozen bank account as compensation to the students’ union.