A charity treasurer has been jailed for five years after stealing more than £500,000 from two organisations.

Steven Methuen controlled the finances of Amblecote Christian Centre, and was found guilty of claiming false gift aid contributions and transferring cash to his personal bank account.

Methuen, an accountant by trade, made false gift aid claims totalling £195,000. He misappropriated a further £205,000 from the charity and £117,000 from Christian International Relief Mission, a related charity which helps children’s orphanages in the Philippines.

The conviction comes after a joint investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and West Midlands Police, which uncovered evidence that the missing funds had been transferred to Methuen’s personal bank account.

Methuen initially claimed innocence and blamed a computer software error. However, digital forensic analysis of computers by HMRC and West Midlands Police disproved this explanation.
 
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that Methuen had transferred around £517,000 to his own account to pay off his personal credit cards.

Graham Ranson, assistant director Criminal Taxes Unit, HMRC, said:

“Methuen was ruthless in his campaign to steal these substantial funds. He gained the trust of the organisations over a number of years and held a respected position. This did not satisfy him or provide any sense of loyalty.

“The gift aid scheme is designed to benefit charities, but Methuen continued to falsify business records for his own financial benefit. The prison sentence handed out by the courts today sends out a clear message that crime does not pay and the community will be horrified to learn he exploited and stole from these charities and the taxpayer, in a sustained and methodical way, over a number of years.”

Methuen pleaded guilty to five counts of 'fraudulently filing gift aid repayment claims contrary to common law', twelve counts of theft under the Theft Act of 1969 in relation to payments made to himself from Amblecote Christian Centre and Christian International Relief Mission.