Golf professional facing trial accused of defrauding golf club out of green fees
Steven Hunter also allegedly defrauded Royal Winchester Golf Club of funds raised at pro-am charity events.
A golf professional will stand trial next year under the accusation of defrauding a Winchester golf course out of green fees and pro-am charity events.
As reported by the Hampshire Chronicle, Steven Hunter was the head professional at Royal Winchester Golf Club, where the membership fees cost £1,300 a year. This is where the crimes allegedly took place.
The 53-year-old appeared at Winchester crown court on Monday where he was charged with fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation, false accounting, tax fraud and obtaining a money transfer by deception.
Hunter was responsible for running the golf shop, conversing with members and collecting green fees, which cost £60 for visiting golfers.
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He faces a charge of defrauding Royal Winchester Golf Club of greens fees during a five-year stretch between June 2013 and June 2018.
Hunter is also charged with stealing money from two charity pro-am events between June 2017 and October 2018, which were held in memory of a longstanding member of the golf club.
The court was also told that Hunter is accused of false accounting by using bank ledgers in his name and Steven Hunter Golf Shops Ltd.
It is claimed that he also cheated HM Revenue and Customs out of the tax payable on the retainer payments under the contract between himself and the golf club between January 2013 and March 2019.
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Hunter is also charged with deceptively obtaining a re-mortgage on Loch Avon, Shawford, by stating that his earnings between 2005 and 2006 were £205,000.
The golf professional has pleaded not guilty to all five counts and a trial has been planned to take place on January 10, expected to last three weeks.
In the meantime, Hunter has been granted bail by Judge Angela Morris.
