A FORMER church treasurer, Terence Capstick, aged 75, of Park Road, Winslow, in Buckinghamshire, has been jailed for defrauding St Laurence’s, Winslow, and the Rogers Free Educational Trust out of more than £285,000, Thames Valley Police report.

Mr Capstick was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on 6 August to four years for two counts of fraud by abuse of position, having pleaded guilty at a hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 20 May.

Between January 2019 and October 2023, Mr Capstick took £163,600 from the church’s bank account and £122,052 from the educational trust’s account. He was arrested on 19 March this year and charged on 23 April.

Detective Constable Ross Acland of the Central Fraud Unit said: “This is the correct result in this case and an overwhelming amount of evidence gathered by officers has assisted us in reaching this point.

“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.”

The Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Dave Bull, expressed gratitude for the police investigation, which had brought “clarity and certainty” regarding the events.

“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.”