A MOTHER who stole £113,000 from a Conservative club is selling her home in order to pay back her debt.

Barbara Hare, aged 67, and her 36-year-old son Steven Hare are due to be sentenced on Monday for their parts in the theft of the cash from Dunscar Conservative Club.

But a hearing at Bolton Crown Court yesterday heard sentencing was likely to be adjourned until later this year to allow time for Barbara Hare's home in Darwen Road, Egerton, to be sold.

Another property in Blackpool, in which Stephen Hare has an interest, is also set to be valued.

Colin Buckle, defending Barbara Hare, told the court that the house she jointly owns with her husband has been valued at £90,000, and a buyer has made an offer for it.

Judge Timothy Stead said: "It does appear to be the case that a substantial sum of money should be forthcoming from the sale of that house — albeit only Mrs Hare's half."

Neither defendant was in court for the hearing.

In January Barbara Hare, the long-standing treasurer at the club, pleaded guilty to theft and false accounting and her son admitted money laundering.

Barbara Hare was one of the club's trustees and had been treasurer at the Bromley Cross based premises since 1989.

Her crimes came to light last year when the club decided to embark on a £60,000 renovation and contractors complained they had not been paid.

Barbara Hare had been siphoning off money from the club's bank account for five years, making 52 payments totalling £36,300 into her own account and a further 175 payments, amounting to £94,950 into accounts belonging to her son.

She later put £19,080 back into the club's account.

She refused to tell police where the money had gone or for what it had been used.

The court has previously heard how the club had to take out a loan as a result of the theft.

The pair are due to be sentenced on September 18.