A man who became the mayor of Narberth five times has today (Wednesday) admitted stealing £400 from the town’s football club.

Colin David Williams, aged 73, of Coxhill, will be sentenced next month.

His daughter, Wendy Williams, aged 50, of the same address, denied an identical charge. Her plea was accepted and she was found not guilty on the direction of a judge at Swansea crown court.

The pair were due to go on trial today but after discussions between barristers for the defence and the prosecution Colin Williams changed his plea.

His barrister, Stephen Thomas, said he was willing to admit stealing £400 in cash between October 3, 2011 and November 1, 2012, but not the £6,000 alleged by the club.

Huw Rees, prosecuting, said the amount was not important, and was, anyway, difficult to establish. What was important was the admission to theft.

“This is a case not without difficulties,” he added.

Mr Thomas said Williams had indicated during interviews with the police that there would be an admission of guilt.

He asked for a probation officer to prepare a report into Williams’ background before sentence was passed.

Judge Peter Heywood said he was willing to order a report, but was surprised to find that one had already been prepared.

Mr Thomas said that had been ordered on the understanding that Williams would admit theft.

But as probation officer Julie Norman interviewed Williams he began to deny stealing anything.

The real dispute, explained Mr Thomas, was about the theft of £6,000 as alleged by the football club.

That had led to the club having to disclose “all financial documents” and then to the appointment of a forensic accountant.

The outcome was, he added, an admission to the theft of £400.

Judge Heywood said there was a “huge difference” between £6,000 and £400 but, nevertheless, the offending still represented a breach of trust and he would not bind the hands of the sentencing judge by ruling that a non custodial sentence would be the eventual outcome.

Judge Heywood asked Julie Norman to update her pre sentence report.

Williams was granted bail until March 18, when he will be sentenced and full details of the offending will be explained by the prosecution.

The stolen money related to a lottery style promotion run by Williams on behalf of the club.

After the hearing, officials of Narberth Football Club refused to comment, but not before one of them had said, “I’m very happy, I’ll tell you that.”