AN ACCOUNTANT has been told he will be jailed after pleading guilty to stealing £310,692 from his clients.

Brian Ridyard, from Duna Way, Kirbymoorside, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to 20 counts of theft between January 2012 and July 2016.

The 63-year-old, who appeared in the dock wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie, was told by the Honourary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty, QC, he will be sentenced on Friday, November 24.

He said: “Be under no illusion a custodial sentence awaits you given the breach of trust involved.

“It’s an enormous amount of money that a good number of hard working people have lost.

“A custodial sentence at your age will be difficult to undergo, but it’s inevitable.”