A thief who pocketed hundreds of pounds from Ashford’s Poppy Appeal has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Derek Russell pleaded guilty to stealing £605 from the Royal British Legion, where he had been the appeal organiser from 2014 up to November last year.

But the 53-year-old, who recently lost his job as a cleaner, was rumbled after his wife suspected him of pilfering funds when she saw wads of cash in his wallet.

She questioned Russell about the money, and at first he told her it was from a Territorial Army pension.

Despite his meagre earnings from Job Seekers Allowance, he bought fireworks, a new mobile phone and dolls and prams for his young family with the cash.

When his wife accused him of stealing from the Poppy Appeal he told her "well, they get plenty".

Russell's wife was herself the former secretary of the Ashford branch, and she informed the branch president Peter Bishop who checked the books and found cash missing.

In court it was revealed that in his role as Poppy Appeal organiser Russell was responsible for banking the cash, and would hit the streets and knock on doors to raise money alongside other volunteers.

But in the branch office in Church Road in Ashford town centre he would wait until other volunteers and branch members went to make tea or use the telephone to steal bank notes.

He was charged by the police shortly after Remembrance Sunday commemorations in November last year, and made his first appearance at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 3.

Judge Justin Barron told him: “This offence is inexplicable. You are a man of 53 with no previous convictions. It’s an obvious breach of public trust.”

Then on Monday, February 15 he reappeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted he bitterly regretted what he had done.

He said he was ashamed and disgusted with himself for betraying the trust of the Royal British Legion. His wife admitted that she had found it difficult to alert the branch to her husband’s theft.

"This offence is inexplicable. You are a man of 53 with no previous convictions. It’s an obvious breach of public trust" - Judge Justin Barron

Ashford Royal British Legion branch chairman Popiraj Rai last week said: “We are really shocked and saddened by what he has done in the name of our charity.

“This affects the trust of the public that we have lost, which is sad because lots of volunteers work really hard and give up so much time to help others.

“Then it is also hard for those who are veterans and their families suffering from injuries and their wounds, who have been affected by his crime.”

He said that while the crime took place before he and the new committee members were in post, they have reviewed the procedures to make sure there is no repeat of the incident.

Russell was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. He was also ordered to repay all the money to the Royal British Legion.