A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a former “associate” of a village church treasurer awaiting sentence for theft of £20,000.

The bench warrant, not backed with bail, was issued by Judge Simon Hickey for the arrest of Peter Taylor.

It followed the 58-year-old defendant’s failure to attend Durham Crown Court for what was listed as a “sentencing” hearing in the case, along with co-accused Frank Michael Pocock.

Pocock, 62, of Wilks Hill, Quebec, near Durham, admitted stealing the church funds when he appeared at the court, in August.

The money was taken from the accounts of St Michael and All Angels Church, in nearby Esh Village, in the 12 months from March, 2014.

Inquiries were launched into the missing money when the Anglican parish church was billed for the installation of a new central heating system for which payment was awaited.

The resulting investigation led to the now former church treasurer, and Taylor, described at a previous hearing as an accountant and “an associate” of Pocock, being arrested and charged with a number of offences relating to the missing funds.

Both previously admitted perverting the course of justice, in a bid to conceal the theft of the money from the church, in 2015.

Although Pocock admitted theft at the previous hearing, five charges of fraud, relating to withdrawals of cash from a Co-op account, were not put to Taylor.

A provisional trial date relating to those five counts was listed for November 22.

When Taylor failed to appear at the latest hearing, his barrister, Paul Cross, told the court: “I’m aware he knows of today’s hearing and I have been given no good reason for him not attending, leading me to suspect he’s deliberately absented himself.”

Judge Simon Hickey, therefore, issued the bench warrant for Taylor’s arrest.

Christopher Knox, for Pocock, said, relating to his client, money has been put aside, and into the hands of his instructing solicitors, to repay some of the outstanding funds to the church.

“We are liaising with the police to provide channels by which it can be paid back to those to whom it is intended, although it’s not straightforward, as it stands.

“No doubt, the provenance of it will need to be checked.”

Prosecutor Jonathan Walker said he would explain the situation to several people from the church in the public gallery, who attended expecting Pocock, at least, to be sentenced.

“A number have travelled a considerable distance at quite significant cost to be here today.”

Pocock was bailed to return for sentence on or after Taylor’s November 22 trial date.