An Army Cadet leader has admitted embezzling £865 from the organisation’s funds.
Jamie Johnstone collected summer camp subscriptions when he was “detachment commander” at Portree.
But when £1,165 was due to be paid for the trip, Johnstone, 41, of 4 Portnalong, Skye, could only produce £300.
Fiscal Stewart Maciver told Portree Sheriff Court yesterday that Johnstone admitted he had spent the rest on himself.
His agent, solicitor Roger Webb said his client had undergone “conflicts in his personal life”.
His wife left him two years ago and left debts for him to pay, plus a mortgage.
He also lost his job last year.
He had never been in trouble before and was being supported by his mother.
The court heard Johnstone was relieved when his embezzlement – which happened between May 2014 and June 2015 – was discovered.
He hoped to get a job on a neighbour’s fishing boat which would give him a wage of about £200 a week, and pay back the money due. The cadet camp went ahead as planned.
Mr Webb said: “He has had a spectacular fall from grace.”
Sheriff Richard Davidson told Johnstone: “You have had difficulties in your personal life and I have some sympathy for you.
“However, this was a gross breach of trust.”
The sheriff deferred sentence until August 1 to allow Johnstone to be of good behaviour.