A former church treasurer has been sentenced to four years in prison for defrauding a Buckinghamshire parish and a local educational trust of more than £285,000.
Terence Capstick, aged 75 admitted two counts of fraud by abuse of position after taking £163,600 from St Laurence’s Church, Winslow, and £122,052 from the Rogers Free Educational Trust between January 2019 and October 2023.
He was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court earlier this month.
In a statement, Detective Constable Ross Acland of Thames Valley Police said: “Capstick systematically abused the position of trust he was placed in through greed and solely for personal gain. Over the course of more than four years, he has taken community funds earmarked for good causes and used them to fund his own lifestyle.”
Responding to the case, the Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Dave Bull, thanked the police for their thorough work, adding: “We pray for the PCC, the parish, the community around the church, and that the new team charged with managing our financial affairs will continue to bring their expertise to our church. We also pray for rehabilitation and healing for the former treasurer.”