A charity worker who stole £18,000 from a village hall to fund a gambling addiction has avoided jail.

Christine Tonks plundered Woodnesborough Community Hall’s account while working as secretary, between August 2019 and February 2021.

The 32-year-old continued to steal from the charity, based near Sandwich, as her debts spiralled, Canterbury Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

The mother-of-two’s scheme surfaced when Lloyd’s Bank flagged a number of suspicious transactions and notified the charity’s chairman.

Initially Tonks denied any wrongdoing but came clean after attending a police station voluntarily, prosecutors said.

“She was employed or engaged by a charitable organisation known as the Woodnesborough Community Hall,” Caroline Knight, prosecuting said.

“In that capacity, as secretary she was in sole charge of the funds which came in support for the charitable institution."

A probe revealed a “large number” of transfers were made, totalling £18,438.12, she added.

When she was tackled by the other trustees she denied making these transfers but in October last year Tonks made “full admissions” to police, Ms Knight said.

“She said she was in a lot of debt and was gambling quite heavily at the time. She said she had full intention to pay back the money,” Ms Knight continued.

The court heard Tonks succumbed to her addiction by skimming money to cover previous losses.

Ms Knight dubbed Tonks’ actions a “clear abuse of trust” where “the community was the victim”.

The money was donated from well-wishers, in particular one unnamed individual, to help fund the community hall, the court heard.

The converted barn is used to host various clubs, ranging from art, fitness and WI meetings.

Tonks, who has since worked to address her addiction, was visibly distressed in the dock as the prosecution laid out its case.

She wept as the judge told her she would not be going to prison.

In mitigation, the court heard Tonks had paid back the money and sought counselling and medical assistance to help overcome her gambling – she was also of previous good character.

Tonks' actions had not caused the charity immediate financial hardship, though its reserve funds had “sailed close to the wind”.

The judge, Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC, told Tonks: “Gambling is a dreadful thing and causes lives to be wrecked.

“People who get into debt because of gambling addictions spiral out of control and do things they don’t know they are capable of.”

He handed Tonks, of Church Farm Way, Woodnesborough, a 12-month community order and four month curfew.

Supported by her family in the public gallery on Tuesday, Tonks pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at an early opportunity.