Clergyman jailed for forgery offences

08/09/2006

A Charlesworth minister guilty of two counts of forgery has today been sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a community punishment order for 240 hours. He was also ordered to pay £4,000 costs.

Tony Craggs pleaded guilty to the offences, which took place in February and December 2003, at an earlier hearing.

Speaking after today's sentencing prosecuting lawyer Gillian Foxcroft from Derbyshire Crown Prosecution Service said:  "Tony Craggs forged a will in the name of one of his elderly parishioners, which bequeathed her home and the vast majority of her estate to him.  He then deceived her into signing this will.  Ten months later he persuaded his second victim, another elderly lady, to give him power of attorney over her affairs, which meant he was able to administer and control her finances.

"Both are clearly very serious offences, but, in this instance, are all the more shocking, not only because his victims were elderly and vulnerable but because Craggs was in a position of trust within the community and he knowingly abused that trust in order to deceive his victims.

"Throughout the investigation we worked closely with the police to build a strong prosecution case against Craggs.  We're pleased that because of this we managed to secure a guilty plea without the need for a trial, which meant his victim was spared having to give evidence against him in court."