The former landlord of an island pub has admitted falsifying records after thousands of pounds went missing from takings.

Mark Haigh, now of Sarmation Fold, Ribchester in Lancashire, was landlord at the Raven pub, a TT course landmark and popular viewing spot in Ballaugh, until he was dismissed from his post at the end of August last year.

For the prosecution, Rachael Braidwood said 47-year-old Haigh had paid in £930 takings at Ballaugh post office, but a paying in slip presented to employers Heron and Brearley had been amended to read £4,930. She said the brewery carried out an audit of the safe at the pub and Haigh told them they would find a £4,000 shortfall.

The police were called and given a copy of the amended paying in slip. Haigh told them he had been busy cashing up during TT and had been called away.

When he returned, he said £6,000 was missing from the total. He said he had been embarrassed and had not mentioned the discrepancy to anyone but instead took it upon himself to gradually repay the money. He had falsified the paying in tab presented to the brewery to try and keep the matter quiet and it had been a relief to find everything brought out into the open.

He admitted one charge of falsifying records on or about August 15 on the basis that he did not know what had happened to the missing cash. He was putting aside a few hundred pounds each week to make up the shortfall. He had paid £930 into the brewery bank account and a few days later had paid in the further £4,000. He said he had amended the slip to try to conceal what had been going on.

Haigh’s advocate, Ian Kermode, asked the court to adjourn for a pre-sentence report on him which is to be compiled by his local probation service in the UK. He is to reappear for sentencing on March 23 in the afternoon. In the meantime he was bailed to his home address subject to a £500 recognisance. Before returning, he must contact his local probation service and keep all appointments.