The founder of a charity ostensibly set up to help wounded members of the armed forces has been told by a judge he faces jail after he used £75,000 of his charity’s income to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself.

Christopher O’Neill reportedly spent the money from the Forces for Good trust on a boat, gambling, drinking, hotels and entertaining a string of women. He was caught after being asked by two of his co-directors to show them the books, and was suspended by them when he refused. He was down for trial last October but failed to turn up to court, going on the run. He later surrendered and has now pleaded guilty to two fraud charges at Caernarfon Crown Court.

He will be sentenced on 20 February 2013.