Former Charity Treasurer Admits to Theft

Pamela Bent, the former treasurer of the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP), has pleaded guilty to stealing over £100,000 from the charity during her tenure from June 2020 to January 2022. The charity uncovered financial irregularities at the end of 2023, leading to an investigation that revealed Bent's fraudulent activities, including false accounting and abuse of position. Although she has repaid half of the stolen funds, approximately £61,000 remains outstanding. SHARP, which has been conducting archaeological digs for over 25 years, expressed confidence in overcoming the financial setback and has implemented new procedures to prevent future issues. Bent is scheduled to be sentenced in October. The charity has apologized to its members and is hopeful for a sustainable future despite the incident.