A former county cricketer has been jailed for two years after stealing £107,548 from Lancashire Cricket Board and Lancashire Youth Cricket Charitable Trust.

Former Lancashire cricketer, Andrew Hayhurst, 52, formerly of Davyhulme, Manchester, pleaded guilty at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to fraud, theft, false accounting and money laundering offences.

Charlotte Crangle, Senior Crown Advocate of CPS North West, said Hayhurst was held in great esteem as an ex-professional cricketer and abused his position of trust within the Lancashire Cricket Board and Lancashire Youth Cricket Charitable Trust, which helped young people in schools and cricket clubs.

"He did not act in the interests of those starting out in the sporting world, which he used to be part of, but instead served to line his own pocket by diverting funds intended to be distributed to local clubs and councils,” said Charlotte.

“He paid the cheques into his own bank account for his own personal benefit.”

According to ESPN Cricinfo, Hayhurst played for Lancashire, Derbyshire and Somerset during his career which spanned from 1985-1997.

"We worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case against Hayhurst which resulted in him pleading guilty to the offences he faced.

“We will now do all we can to strip Hayhurst of the criminal assets he has obtained,” added Charlotte.

"This case also sends a clear message to those involved in this kind of criminality that we will robustly prosecute them to ensure that justice is done, and that they will pay not only financially, but with their liberty too."