A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a former parish council clerk after he failed to appear in court to face charges of theft from his authority.
Phillip Lynch has been accused of stealing money to the value of £5,456 belonging to Croxdale and Hett Parish Council, near Durham, between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015.
The 38-year-old had been summonsed to appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, May 24), to answer a charge of theft by employee, but had not attended by the end of the day’s proceedings.
Addressing the bench, prosecutor Rachael Dodworth said: “Phillip Lynch was to appear for theft of monies from a parish council to the value of £5,456. He hasn’t attended.
“It was a postal requisition, so I am asking that the bench issue a warrant without bail, in the first instance, for his arrest.”
Parish council chairman Joe Anderson confirmed that Mr Lynch of Wood View, Croxdale, Durham, had left his post several months ago.
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