Treasurer Mark Conway-Wilcox Stole money from St Wilfrid's Church's renovation fund and put church in a risk of closure after failing to pay various bills.
A trusted church treasurer who stole £20,000 from a renovation pot to fund his gambling habit has narrowly avoided jail.
Mark Conway-Wilcox, 30, of Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, admitted four counts of theft after stealing from St Wilfrid's Church's - but claimed the amount he had taken was closer to £15,000.
Yesterday he was branded 'unchristian' for leaving the Newcastle church on the brink of closure after stealing the money and blowing it on gambling.