Church treasurer Mark Conway-Wilcox ( pictured ) has admitted four counts of theft after stealing £20,000 from St Wilfrid 's Church 's renovation pot . 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 . Newcastle Crown Court heard Conway-Wilcox also failed to pay various bills , had creditors chasing the church and even left it potentially uninsured . The court heard Conway-Wilcox became treasurer at St Wilfrid 's in May 2013 and was responsible for making sure money was put in the bank and invoices were paid . After receiving complaints about unpaid bills Reverend Sarah Miller initially gave Conway-Wilcox the benefit of the doubt . But matters came to a head in May last year when Ecclesiastical Insurance rang up and told her they had not been paid and that the church and its contents were potentially uninsured . An investigation began and it was discovered Conway-Wilcox had transferred £10,098 from the church 's refurbishment account into his own between November 2013 and May 2014 . A further £550 had been moved from church bank accounts to his account and Conway-Wilcox failed to bank more than £10,000 in cheques . Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court the total amount misappropriated was £20,856.78 . The church has since been paid back £10,000 by the insurance company . St Wilfrid 's Church in Newbiggin Hall , Newcastle , was left in danger of closure after Conway-Wilcox failed to pay various bills , had creditors chasing the church and even left it potentially uninsured . Paul Caulfield , defending , told the court : 'He had a horrendous gambling problem , referred himself for help and has attended 20 sessions . 'Since this matter came to light he has not been involved in gambling . 'He is mortified by his conduct and apologises publicly , having apologised privately previously . ' Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC told Conway-Wilcox : 'This church serves one of this great city 's less fortunate areas and it has a small but committed congregation . 'The church , its fabric and its good work was placed in jeopardy by you . 'And why ? Well , because of your greed . You saw them as a soft target and a ready source of cash for your own frailties and you plundered what money they had . 'You took advantage of your position of trust by stealing from various bank accounts and when it was queried you stalled , prevaricated and lied . 'Not only is it unchristian it is thoroughly dishonest . ' Newcastle Crown Court heard Conway-Wilcox left the Newcastle church on the brink of closure . Martin Sheppard , of the Diocese of Newcastle , said : 'It 's been a very sad story for Martin , for his family and the church family at Newbiggin Hall . It 's been a very difficult time for the congregation . 'We do n't understand why he did what he did . Everyone feels great sorrow and regret . 'As I understand it , the money that was taken was money that people had been collecting for the renovation work for a church hall facility in the Newbiggin Hall area . 'The money was collected by faithful members of the church and now they have been set back in their project to serve the community where they live , work and worship . ' Conway-Wilcox was handed an eight month prison sentence , suspended for two years , with 200 hours of unpaid work . He was also ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to St Wilfrid 's .
Treasurer Mark Conway-Wilcox , yesterday , stole £20,000 to fund gambling habit . Stole money from St Wilfrid 's Church 's renovation fund and bank account . Church faced closure after it was revealed he had not paid the insurance . He also failed to pay various bills and had creditors chasing the church . Conway-Wilcox has now been handed a suspended prison sentence . He was 30 branded 'unchristian ' 'greedy ' and 'dishonest ' by a judge .