BROAD Street Mall’s former manager was found guilty of skimming council funds for disabled facilities at Reading Crown Court today. 

Despite calling on Sir John Madejski as a character witness, Steve Fawke was convicted of stealing £3,245 given to the mall’s owners by Reading Borough Council to install an easy access shower and toilet.

The 59-year-old, who was on a £60,000 annual salary at the time, took the money destined to build Changing Places disabled facilities run by charity Mencap by sending a cheque to his wife Jacqueline.

Speaking on the third day of the trial at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, Hassan Baig, prosecuting, said: “That money was put in a particular account for particular purpose: The Changing Places.

“It was ear marked. It was ring fenced. It was almost treated like a trust.

“Why did you pay yourself from the Broad Street Mall account for services that were nothing to do with Changing Places?”

Fawke admitted to taking the money from the beginning of the trial, but claimed it was owed to him and pocketed lawfully. 

“This was payment that they owed me. There is no way that any other of the companies lost out on £3,245 worth of work,” he said on the third day. 

Fawke did however, express regret over actions that led to his arrest in November 2013 and seven subsequent police bails.

“I hope this happens to none of you,” he said to the jury.

“Your head is all over the place. Because your head is all over the place you don’t necessarily remember absolutely everything.

“We all make mistakes. This is probably the biggest mistake I have made in my life.”

On Tuesday Stephanie Maynard, who had worked at Broad Street Mall as a subcontracted marketing manager for 14 years, gave an emotional account of events under cross examination from Mr Blake.

Mr Blake accused Mrs Maynard of signing off the funds to Mrs Fawke’s account without due diligence, which she denied through tears and said: “That’s not true.

“I had no reason to suspect that this was going towards anything untoward.

“I am not in the habit of signing blank cheques.”

Mr Fawke, of Amazon Close, Basingstoke, was found guilty of one count of theft. He faces sentencing on June 17.