A CLAY pigeon shooting club took its former treasurer to court yesterday, after he admitted pilfering £8,000 from the accounts.

Robert Minto, 51, admitted taking the money from Spennymoor and District Clay Pigeon Shooting Club before he was voted out as treasurer just over 12 months ago.

Shortly after Mr Minto left, it was discovered that financial records had been destroyed.

Further investigations by the committee revealed that some money had not been paid into the club's bank account.

He was given a police caution, and yesterday, at Bishop Auckland County Court, Mr Minto, from Mayfields, Spennymoor, was ordered to pay back £1,000 immediately, followed by £50 monthly instalments, after a successful application by the club.

But the club says it will take about 11 years for the money to be paid back, and it is already suffering financially after closing during the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Speaking after the court hearing, committee member Terry Jacques said: "The money was to get better facilities for the members of the club.

"This gives him 11 and half years to pay back the money. We are pretty miffed.

"Not only did we stop shooting in March because of foot-and-mouth, but we still have expenses, such as ground rent and insurance, and no money. At the end of the day, there are people who will give us a loan if it comes to that, but why should it come to that?"

But Mr Minto told The Northern Echo he was innocent, despite signing an admission form, saying he just wanted the incident to 'blow over.'

He said: "I did not take the money they are alleging, and I will continue to fight this."