AN accountant has been jailed for embezzling £25,000 from the golf course where he worked.

John Doyle, of Newton Mearns, swiped the cash while managing secretary of Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club in Bridge of Weir.

Doyle, 65, pocketed the cash over a six-year period between April 19, 2010, and May 11, 2016.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Claire Nicholls told the court suspicion fell on Doyle due to his role at the club and because, when investigations were made, he admitted he was responsible, saying: “It was only a temporary measure until I got my pension.”

He had been charged with embezzling £37,477.30 but struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to pocketing £25,000.

But, the court heard, once he had received his pension in a lump sum, he made two payments to the golf club – one for £15,000 and one for £20,000 – totalling £35,000.

Defence solicitor Tom Williamson said Doyle had started off buying “a few items” for himself with club funds, and planned to pay the money back when he received his pension.

But he said that he lost track of the amount of money he owed and later realised he had racked up a considerable debt.

The lawyer explained: “He knew at the time that was wrong, he’s an accountant.

“Even if he did repay promptly, he knew it would still be illegal and that would be fraudulent.”

He added: “He’s a person previously of good character, has no previous convictions, had a long period of productive employment and it’s extremely regrettable he, at the end of his career, became involved in this activity.”

The lawyer also said the 65-year-old was “fit and able to do unpaid work and, as he puts it, would jump at the opportunity to do that” as part of a Community Service Order.

But Sheriff Colin Pettigrew jailed him for six months, reduced from eight as he had admitted his guilt. The sheriff said: “This was, quite clearly, persistent and deliberate conduct, incorporating concealment. A Community Service Order, even with the maximum number of hours [of unpaid work imposed upon you] wouldn’t be appropriate.

“In my view, there is only one appropriate sentence in this case, and that is a custodial sentence.You have suffered both professional and personal embarrassment, but you brought that upon yourself.”