THE double life of Burnley sub postmaster Richard Lofthouse was revealed as a judge jailed him for 27 months for benefit book fraud.

The former president of Todmorden Cricket Club was a Rotarian, charity worker and had even given bone marrow to help a sick child, Burnley Crown Court heard.

But fraud became an addiction to the 36-year-old father-of-two and over an 18-month period he stole nearly £110,000 by forging pension book signatures at his Brunshaw Road post office.

He claimed he started the fiddle because of money troubles - but still used stolen cash to fulfil his boyhood dream and buy himself a £24,000 BMW.

Lofthouse, of Riddings Avenue, Worsthorne, admitted 15 counts of theft from the Secretary of State for Social Security between late 1997 and early 1999 and asked for 90 offences to be considered.

He had no previous convictions.

Sentencing Lofthouse, Judge David Pirie said he had grossly breached the trust of his employers. He added that although nobody was deprived of benefit money due to Lofthouse's theft or misuse of books, he had been handling public funds and abused his position.

Miss Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting for the Department of Social Security, said Lofthouse took a total of £109,861.

She said the department would be seeking a confiscation order in relation to the amount stolen.

In March 1993, Lofthouse began as sub post master at Brunshaw Road, and in November 1998 investigations started when it became apparent a lot of benefit books appeared to have gone missing but £85,000 had been cashed in orders through Brunshaw Post Office. Lofthouse was interviewed and said he had stolen books and forged signatures. Eighty six books were involved. Lofthouse said about two years earlier a number of benefit books had been sent to another post office by mistake and were stopped. They were eventually redirected and instead of sending all the books back the defendant kept about half of them and started to cash them.

Miss Kenny said Lofthouse told police he had been vigilant against discovery by staff.

If any found a stop notice against a book he held he would destroy it. He estimated he was making between £80 and £100 a week, claimed he had financial difficulties but had bought a £24,000 BMW.

He added the offences snowballed, he had been greedy and realised he could make a bit out of what he had been doing for himself.

Roger Baldwin, defending, handed the judge a bunch of testimonials on Lofthouse's behalf and said the defendant had brought havoc and disgrace on his family and himself.

He had previously led a blameless existence and no words could express his remorse.

The defendant, a former baker, took on the post office at a cost of £136,000, borrowing £30,000 from his parents. That money, which they had relied on for their retirement, was now in jeopardy.

He had an £86,000 mortgage on his business and a £75,000 mortgage on his home, and in August 1997 set about refurbishing the post office with a loan. It cost about £17,000 more than estimated and it was during this period the offences started.

He was under considerable financial pressure and the fraud became something like an addiction. Of the money taken, Lofthouse's spending included £15,500 on the refurbishing, £50,000 for ordinary living expenses, more than £11,000 on holidays, car expenses, membership of organisations and donations to charity and £10,000 towards the BMW.

Mr Baldwin added the post office was now for sale, Lofthouse's home was for sale and the BMW had already been impounded. Lofthouse's wife and children had moved to rented accommodation in Todmorden.

He was a man who did not have many enemies, was a Round Tabler, charity worker and until recently had been the president of Todmorden Cricket Club. He had also donated bone marrow to help a sick child.

He went on: "No words that I can put forward can adequately express his regret at what he has done.

"While trying to keep his family in a good way of living, it is his family in the end who are going to suffer because of the sentence he now faces."

Mr Baldwin added Lofthouse had been receiving medication because of the anxiety he had been under due to the case and knew his wife, who had been so affected by the proceedings she had not been able to come to court, would be put under more stress.

He concluded: "This is a black day for the whole family."

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