A CONMAN has been spared jail after conning a military charity of nearly £30,000.

Victor Scuse, 76, of Wigmore Road, Worthing was treasurer for the Royal Air Force Association in Worthing for around eight years and had control of the financial decision making for the club from 2008 In 2011 he was challenged by the charity over losses spanning three to four years -but Scuse handed in his resignation.

Police started investigating and discovered Scuse had been charging the RAFA club for goods and services which they never received at extortionate prices including an automatic hand dryer costing £528.75, 20 litres of weed-killer at £451.20 when they don't have a garden and repairs to an existing satellite dish totalling £112.80.

Other charges includes repairs to a chiller refrigeration unit at £675.63, a glass dishwasher maintenance contract costing £564.00 and £1,500 worth of hand towels.

During the period 2008 to 2010 the RAFA club received invoices from Forefront Sales, the company Scuse owned, for a total of £26,120.

Scuse was arrested in 2012 and charged with fraud by abuse of position between December 2007 and April 2011.

He pleaded guilty on February 23 this year at Chichester Crown Court and was sentenced immediately to 12 months, suspended for two years and ordered to pay RAFA £2,400 compensation.

Detective constable Beccy Hopkins said: "The RAF Association is a charity which provides vital support to ex-servicemen and women and relies upon the generosity and integrity of its members. The RAF Association trusted Victor Scuse to carry out his duties as treasurer to the benefit of the charity. Scuse abused his position and the trust that had been placed in him. It is to the credit of the current committee who have worked tirelessly to keep the Club going during this difficult time.