THE former chief executive of the Butterwick Hospice has been charged with fraud and theft.

Graham Leggatt-Chidgey left the charity in March after 21 years in charge but news of his arrest wasn’t revealed until May.

Butterwick Hospice Care funds hospices for adults and young people in Stockton and Bishop Auckland and Butterwick House Children’s Hospice.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Detectives investigating allegations of fraud at Butterwick Hospice have charged a 62-year-old man with a number of offences.

“Graham Leggatt-Chidgey, from near Barnard Castle, has been charged with fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation and theft by employee.”

The 62-year-old, is due to appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Monday, September 18.

Last week, it was announced a former Karate World Championships finalist Debbie Jones was appointed as the charity’s new chief executive.

The Butterwick Hospice movement was launched in 1984 by Stockton mother-of-four Mary Butterwick after her beloved husband John died from cancer. Mrs Butterwick responded by selling her home to kick-start the finances for a place where people could die with dignity. She died, aged 91, in October 2015.