FORMER Falkirk FC cashier Paul Deans was fined #750 yesterday for

defrauded the club of #3000 to spend on his girlfriend.

Deans, 24, of Highcross Avenue, Melrose, admitted the charge at

Falkirk Sheriff Court.

His father, Hamish, the club's former chairman, and his brother,

George, the ex-vice chairman, were cleared of embezzling #7200 from the

club after a nine-day trial.

However, Hamish Deans, 55, of Bannerfield House, Selkirk, the managing

director of Scottish Borders Abattoirs, was fined #200 after being found

guilty of defrauding the Meat and Livestock Commission of #73 over

flight tickets to attend a meeeting at its Milton Keynes headquarters.

Depute procurator-fiscal Petra Collins told the court that police

launched an investigation after they received a telephone call alleging

that Paul Deans was spending a lot of money, which he had embezzled from

Brockville, on his girlfriend.

Ms Collins said that between February, 1991, and his resignation in

April, 1992, Paul Deans, now a part-time music teacher and cinema

projectionist, took cash in ''dribs and drabs'' from the club's cash

float for home games.

Police found that his bank account revealed that he had used #1550 of

the club's cash to pay for the insurance on his girlfriend's car.

Paul Deans's lawyer, Mr Alistair Duff, said: ''He always intended to

pay the money back but he allowed the sums of money to get out of

hand.''

Sheriff John MacDonald said he noted that the money had been paid back

by Hamish Deans but he told Paul Deans: ''You were in a position of

trust.''

The sheriff cleared Hamish Deans and his other son, George, 27, a

Lauder butcher, of seven embezzlement charges.

They included obtaining Access cards for club business from the

Clydesdale Bank without holding a legally required board meeting for

authority, and using club cash to repair a house in Lauder, owned by

Hamish Deans, which the club then let to Paul Deans.

It was also alleged Falkirk FC paid for publicity pictures of Hamish

Deans and his wife after he was appointed chairman and for a mobile

phone for Mr George Deans's car.

Mr Duff told the court that Hamish Deans and his wife had been the

victims of a hate campaign at the club's Brockville ground, with

poison-pen letters being sent to their home.

Outside the court, Mr Duff said Hamish Deans and Mr George Deans were

''delighted'' at the verdicts, adding: ''The sheriff made it clear that

their dealings with Falkirk FC were perfectly proper.''

The trial had heard an independent audit of the club's books had

revealed a shortage of #30,000. When professional fees and interest were

added, it came to around #70,000.

Hamish Deans told the court he had made up the missing money because

he felt that, as chairman, he was responsible for the running of the

club. He added that he also wanted to defend his son, Paul.

Hamish Deans and Mr George Deans sold their 57% controlling stake in

Falkirk to Mr George Fulston last year.