A mayor had a gambling habit when he pocketed £220 of takings from an ice cream van during his community's celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it was claimed yesterday.

‎Senior councillor Andrew Williams allegedly depended on loans from pay day lenders to tide him over while serving as Ripon's First Citizen in 2012.

A jury was told Williams had put on a suit and his gold chain of office to hand out prizes on the evening of Ripon's Jubilee festivities that June.

York Crown Court was told that in return for selling ice creams at the event John Taylor, of Harrogate-based C & M Ices, had agreed with council bosses by email to hand over 20 to 25 per cent of the day's takings.

When he cashed up, he reckoned he owed the authority about £220, said Prosecutor David McGonigal.

He put the cash in a clear money bag with a couple of his business cards and went wandering around the market square looking for someone from the council to give it to, the jury was told.

‎Mr Taylor spotted a local councillor Stuart Martin and tried to give it to him. But he refused to take it and pointed out Williams, 43, who was standing nearby, Mr McGonigal continued.

He added: "The defendant was wearing his gold chain of office around his neck and was therefore easily identifiable‎.

"Mr Martin pointed to Mr Williams and suggested Mr Taylor give him the money.

"Mr Taylor walked across to Mr Williams and gave him the money. That's the prosecution case. Mr Williams's case is he never received the money - that he never received it at all."

The court heard that if Williams did receive the money he had a duty to pass it to Ruth Terry who was responsible for banking it for the council.

But no money was received. "The prosecution's case is Mr Williams kept the money for his own purposes," added ‎Mr McGonigal.

He added that when interviewed by police Williams said he was under financial pressure partly because his partner was pregnant and had stopped working.

"‎It was partly caused by a gambling habit," the prosecutor continued.

The court heard when the missing money was noted by the council's Jubilee accounting committee ‎in September, Williams offered to chase it up.

The jury heard that towards the end of 2012 the matter was reported to police who began making inquiries.

In April 2013, Ruth Terry was opening the post when she came across an envelope containing £220 in £10 notes. She handed it to police, who arrested Williams on June 23.

Mr Taylor said while he was looking for someone to pay he was told "Give it to the Mayor" so he did so.

Williams, of Pine View, Locker Lane, Ripon, denies one offence of fraud. The trial continues.