A volunteer treasurer for an education charity and parish church has been jailed for four years after admitting two counts of fraud of funds totalling more than £285,000.

Terence Capstick, 75, of Park Road, Winslow, was sentenced at a hearing at Aylsebury Crown Court this month for the fraud and abusing his position as a treasurer of Winslow Parish Church and Rogers Free Educational Trust.

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, it emerged he took £163,000 from the church’s bank account and £122,052 from the charity’s account.

The offences took place between 2019 and 2023, and he was arrested and charged earlier this year.

“This is the correct result in this case and an overwhelming amount of evidence gathered by officers has assisted us in reaching this point,” said Thames Valley Police central fraud unit detective constable Ross Acland.

“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 Canon Dave Bull said he is grateful to the work of the police and courts “for bringing this regrettable case to justice”.

“Fraud is a crime which has far reaching consequences, not least the financial viability of a parish, and we are glad to have the clarity and certainty we needed regarding the actions of the former treasurer,” he added.

Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn from the force’s central fraud unit said: “This was a dishonest and selfish act which has had a significant financial and emotional effect on the community.

“His guilty plea is testament to the thorough investigation by my Buckinghamshire Fraud Team.

“I hope this lengthy custodial sentence illustrates the seriousness of fraud cases which are often seen as a ‘victimless crime’ when this is clearly not the case.

“Thames Valley Police will continue to pursue those committing fraud within our communities and work tirelessly to ensure justice for victims.”

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