A MAN from Lapford, near Crediton, appearing at court in Exeter, admitted stealing £84,000 while acting as treasurer for two country sports clubs.

Graeme Holmes (59), took the cash while acting as treasurer of the Eggesford Hunt Supporters’ Club and the Sid and Otter Riding Club.

He was found to have defrauded both clubs of funds for almost a decade and used the money to keep up his image as a pillar of the local rural community.

The IT salesman was a joint master of the hunt, kept a stable of horses and bought a large house near Lapford.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC told him his reputation now lay in tatters.

He described him as “dishonest” and said what he had done was a “gross breach of trust”.

He added: “You treated money and funds of these organisations of which you were the treasurer as if they were your own and you’ve been caught."

Holmes pleaded guilty to abusing his position as treasurer of the Supporters’ Club between January 15, 2007 and April 15, 2016.

He also admitted the same offence against the Riding Club between August 26, 2008 and April 8, 2016.

He has since paid all the money back, some by cashing in his pension.

Judge Mercer said he was lucky the Conservative government had changed the law to allow pension pots to be cashed in early.

“The amount of money is substantial," said the judge. “Your saving grace is that you have been able to pay back the money you took and it’s fully repaid."

Holmes was sentenced to 20 months in jail, suspended for 18 months. He must do 150 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £550.