A FORMER treasurer who stole more than £30,000 from a church group in Bradford will be sentenced at Crown Court next month.

David Barras pleaded guilty to taking money belonging to Tong and Holme Wood Parochial Church Council during a brief hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon.

Wendy Barras, who lives at Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, Bradford, with her husband, also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation after admitting a charge of transferring £500 from the church group's bank account Mr Barras's.

The court heard that Mr Barras, then acting as treasurer for the church council, stole £30,176.80 between February 9 and June 10 this year, transferring the money into personal accounts.

The charge against Mrs Barras also related to the same four-month period.

Suzanne Paige, prosecuting, said due to the position of trust abused by Mr Barras, the matter needed committing to Crown Court.

Upkar Bahia, solicitor for both defendants, said 83 payments had been made between the accounts, and agreed that the matter should be transferred to the higher court.

Gamil Haddad, chairman of the magistrates' bench, said: "This is a serious case of fraud, especially as it was carried out in a position of trust.

"We are not able to handle the case here, it needs to be heard in the Crown Court."

Mrs Barras, 48, was given unconditional bail ahead of the pair's hearing at Bradford Crown Court on November 25.

Mr Barras, 61, who walked with a stick and was allowed to sit during the ten-minute hearing, was given bail under the conditions he did not attend St Christopher's Church in Holme Wood or try to contact any prosecution witnesses.

Aside from St Christopher's, on Holmewood Road, the Church of England parish also includes St James Church in Tong.