Bridgland, from Grimsby, Lincs, left the charity crippled beyond recovery after engineering the resignation of its chairman and selling stolen property for her own gain.

Hull Crown Court heard how the rescue service, which was set up in the wake of three child deaths, was left to deal with unpaid gas and electricity bills and debt collectors.

Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly told the court: "Mrs Bridgland was treasurer of the Cleethorpes Rescue Service from 2007-2012.

"During that time, she abused her position of trust by selling charity assets, not using proceeds for the charity and withdrawing cash for herself.

"She also claimed gift aid from Inland Revenue by making false claims."

The court heard how the charity was set up in 1969 after three young horse riders and an adult were cut off by a sea mist on the beach at Cleethorpes, East Lincolnshire.

At the time when Bridgland joined, the charity had a boat, Land Rover, headquarters and jet ski. The organisation offered courses in water safety and worked alongside the RNLI and Coastguard service.