Church thief
A Church of England treasurer embezzled almost £12,000 from parish funds in order to keep her cheating husband sweet.
Deborah Stanger wrote her own name on blank cheques given to her by the vicar to pay church bills. As reported in the Daily Telegraph, Stanger was attempting to buy back the love of her husband, Robin, who had been guilty of an affair.
When the mortgage repayments fell into arrears, Stanger used her position as church treasurer to steal from Christ Church, in Felling, Tyne & Wear. Over the course of 15 months, she banked sixteen fraudulent cheques.
Stanger pleaded guilty to one count of fraud at Gateshead Magistrates Court and has been ordered to complete a 12-month community order. She has stated that she will repay the funds to the church.
