A disgraced club steward has been ordered to do 50 hours' community service after a jury found him guilty of stealing £1,000 from the Bradford Labour club where he had worked for five years.

The city's crown court heard that Clifford Martin had been a prominent figure in the national union of club stewards, having been its elected president and a branch secretary.

But a few weeks after Martin stepped down from his job at the East Ward Labour Club in Otley Road, its secretary discovered that £7,000 was missing from the bank account.

Martin resigned from the club in December 2001 claiming that the job was too much for him and the missing £7,000 should have been banked as part of the last week's takings before he handed over to a new steward.

He was called to a meeting with some of the committee members in January 2002 and told them that the cash had been stolen from the glove compartment of his unlocked car.

Martin said he had gone to the bank in Idle with the money but, because it was busy, he decided to go and do some shopping at a nearby Morrisons supermarket.

He said he left the cash in the car and only realised it had gone when he returned to the bank to pay it in.

Martin told the jury he was horrified when he discovered the money was gone, but did not report the theft to the police because he panicked.

After the meeting last January, the club's records were checked and a further £1,000 was found to be missing.

A bank deposit slip and a weekly takings sheet had also been altered by Martin.

The married 60-year-old, who had no previous convictions, had denied two charges of theft, but at the end of a three-day trial the jury yesterday found him guilty of stealing £1,000 and not guilty of stealing the larger amount.

Ordering him to repay the £1,000 and pay £500 court costs, Judge Roger Scott referred to his previous "exemplary" character and added: "Today is an extremely sad day for you and your family."

Martin, of Ghyllroyd Avenue, Birkenshaw, had been the steward at the Birkenshaw Liberal Club for 16 years prior to taking on the job at East Ward.