80 year old Roger Ladbury, embezzled £96,000 whilst overseeing the accounts of Britford Church and the Chalke Valley Team Council during 2008 and 2017.
Following an investigation launched by Wiltshire Police and the Diocese two years ago, Mr Ladbury has confessed to the wrongful actions and has been issued with a police caution.
Under the conditions that he repay all of money he took, write a letter of apology to church members and hear the reports of victims to his crime, Mr Ladbury will not receive a prison sentence.
Revd Catherine Blundell, rector of the Chalke Valley Churches, said that while a Conditional Caution is unusual in a situation like this, under legal guidance and after much prayer, it had been accepted.
She said: “A conditional caution allows Roger to face the consequences of his actions, but avoids a lengthy court case or a possible prison sentence for an elderly man. This, we feel, allows us to demonstrate clear Christian values in the resolution of this matter.”
She went on to say: “Now that the money has been repaid and Roger has confessed and apologised, we hope that as Churches we can move on from this.
“We do not want this one act to define us because as Churches we reach out into the communities we serve with generosity and love”
The Diocese of Salisbury has reassured people who give to the churches involved that they have ‘thoroughly…
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