Colin McLatchie, who has been sentenced to 21 months for theft, pictured in 2005 when he was the GRUFC’s coach.

FORMER island rugby coach Colin McLatchie has been jailed for 21 months for stealing thousands from H20 Liquid Engineering Ltd. The 45-year-old married father of three was found guilty at trial in June of 13 counts of theft and was yesterday sentenced by the Royal Court.

McLatchie was a director of the company that was formed in 2005 and was responsible for its administration and banking.

But McLatchie, whose salary was £50,000 a year, took advantage of these roles by stealing more than £23,000 through a mixture of cheques and internet banking transfers between April 2006 and June 2007. He had also bought goods through the company for his own benefit totalling just over £4,500.

Judge Russell Finch said McLatchie had committed an expensive breach of trust involving a new Guernsey company operating on a modest level. As a result, the sums involved could not be considered insignificant.

Advocate Alan Merrien, representing McLatchie, asked for his client to be given a period of community service. He said McLatchie wanted to repay the money taken and a custodial sentence would severely hamper that.

But Judge Finch said that community service was not appropriate for this type of offence.