The former treasurer of Scarborough and District Railway Modellers Club has narrowly escaped jail for cheating its members out of £4,633. Robert John Hingley, 51, deceived other officers and members for two years while he drained the society's building society account, Jim Withyman, prosecuting, told York Crown Court. Judge Paul Hoffman said that in 99 out of 100 such cases, the thief was jailed. But he gave Hingley 240 hours' community service instead, partly so he could repay all the stolen money. York Crown Court heard it would take the former treasurer about eight years to repay the money because of his financial circumstances.

Hingley, now of Pudsey, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft and asked for six more to be taken into consideration. He had no previous convictions.