A BUSINESSMAN who returned from Africa will not face prosecution for allegedly handling two stolen cheques which figured in a £51,000 fraud.
John Saunders was one of a number of people accused of handling telephone bill payment cheques stolen by an employee at British Telecom's Durham office, between April and August 1996.
Four people were jailed and two others received community service orders at Teesside Crown Court in January last year as a result of the fraud. Mr Saunders, of Castle View, Bishop Middleham, County Durham appeared before Durham Crown Court last month, when the hearing was told he had returned from working in the Gambia, to voluntarily appear.
The hearing was adjourned, and on his return to court yesterday, Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, offered no evidence against Mr Saunders.
Roger Thomas QC recorded a formal not guilty verdict.
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