A RETIRED police officer has been jailed for stealing £22,000 from the Presbyterian church of which he was treasurer.
Derek Carson (56), of Orchard Way in Portglenone, Co Antrim, was found guilty after a trial in Derry Crown Court of three charges involving theft, fraud by abuse of position and converting criminal property between January 1 2007 and June 30 2013.
When Carson, who was treasurer of Churchtown Presbyterian Church, was questioned by an accountant he claimed that money had been taken from his car as he was going to lodge it in the bank.
He said he had not reported the matter to anyone because he was “embarrassed”.
When interviewed by police Carson put forward several versions of events as to when and how the supposed theft from his car took place.
Upon his retirement from the police service Carson received a lump sum of £147,000. He had several bank accounts, some of which had “unexplained lodgments”.
Judge Philip Babington noted that although Carson had offered to repay the money: “I have doubt the money would have appeared had the defendant not been convicted.”
Carson was sentenced to 14 months in prison with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.
