A MODERN-DAY Robin Hood stole £17,000 from a gymnastics association to help a club for disadvantaged children.
John Wake, 72, was the treasurer of the North of England Gymnastics Association, but over a five-year period took advantage of his position to secretly plunder thousands from its funds.
The pensioner, who had never been in trouble in his life, used the money to fund a gymnastics club for under privileged youngsters in the Rye Hill area of Newcastle.
He admitted five theft charges, but was spared jail at Newcastle Crown Court after the hearing was told how he never spent a penny of the money on himself.
Judge David Hodson sentenced Wake, of Strathmore Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, to nine months in jail suspended for two years and a supervision order.
Wake started to take the money when the 43-member club ran into financial difficulties.
The judge told him: "You did not use it on riotous living, fancy holidays, expensive cars, and the rest. It went to under privileged children. It's a wholly exceptional circumstance."
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