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I didn't steal money says PSNI officer

A PSNI officer has denied stealing almost £53,000 in money warrants belonging to the Court Service over a three-year period.

Constable Bryan Thomas Stronge (52), whose address was given as c/o Tennent Street police station in west Belfast, appeared at the city's crown court yesterday for an arraignment hearing.

He pleaded not guilty to stealing cash totalling £52,876.63 between January 2009 and April 2012.

Money warrants, which may be issued for non-payment of fines, can be processed by police before funds are transferred to the Court Service.

Defence QC Frank O'Donoghue said he had retained the services of a forensic accountant to examine "how the money was processed at Antrim Road PSNI station before going to the Court Service''.

"My client denies taking the money. My client is saying: 'It wasn't me'," he said.

"Where the money went to, well that's a mystery.''

Mr Justice Weir said a trial date had been set for March 2015 and the hearing was expected to last up to two weeks.

Stronge was released on continuing bail.