Vicar who stole more than £100k from church to fund alcohol habit walks free from court
A VICAR who stole more than £100,000 from his church to fund his alcohol habit has walked free after a judge said his good works outweighed the harm he had caused.
Michael Fry lied about the number of funerals he conducted between 2006 and 2013
Michael Fry, 57, of St Luke's church, Liverpool, lied about the number of funerals he conducted between 2006 and 2013 and pocketed the fees to fund his excessive drinking.
He resigned in January 2014 after the church discovered the discrepancy.
He resigned in January 2014
Putting aside the money issues, you are undoubtedly a very caring, compassionate individual
He pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft totalling £107,673 and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Fry told police he spent it on "drink, travel, books for the garden".
He pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft
Martine Snowdon, defending, said Fry was deeply remorseful and was now working as a volunteer at a centre for the homeless.
Sentencing him, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: "Putting aside the money issues, you are undoubtedly a very caring, compassionate individual.
Fry told police he spent it on "drink, travel, books for the garden"
"I take the view that there comes a time in a man's life when you are entitled to say 'measure the good I have done against the harm I have done'.
"I have no doubt the good you have done in the community, and continue to do, outweighs the harm you have done."