A CHURCH treasurer who plundered more than £30,000 from a deprived Bradford parish has been jailed for two years.

David Barras bought a car out of money given to Tong and Holme Wood Parochial Church Council by needy people who saw their church as a refuge in an area with a high crime rate.

Barras, 61, of Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, Bradford, milked the church group of lump sums of up to £500, between February 9 and June 10 this year, transferring the money into personal bank accounts, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

His wife, Wendy, 49, who was "dragged" into the dishonesty by her husband was sentenced to a conditional discharge for 12 months.

David Barras pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court to stealing £30,176 from the Reverend Steve Davie's parish that includes St Christopher's Church in Holme Wood Road, and St James Church in Tong.

Barras, a qualified chartered accountant, was jailed for 12 months in 1992 for stealing £10,000 when he was treasurer of a Citizens Advice Bureau.

His wife, of previous "impeccable good character" admitted one charge of fraud by false representation by transferring £500 from the church group to her husband's bank account.

The court heard he asked her to carry out the single transaction while he was in hospital.

Prosecutor Giles Bridge said Barras was a member of the churches' congregation for about eight years and secretary of the PCC before he took on the role of treasurer last year.

He had converted to Christianity since his previous spell behind bars and assured the PCC he had turned over a new leaf and could be trusted.

He began stealing the money in February, taking small amounts from the church account as "a temporary loan". The amounts increased and, in May alone, he pocketed £8,300.

In early June, his predecessor found a bank statement in the church and became suspicious of the large cash withdrawals showing on it.

Mr Davie confronted Barras and he told him he had "borrowed" the money.

The court heard Barras was living on benefits and bought a £2,200 car with the plundered cash.

Mr Bridge said the stolen money was badly needed by a struggling parish that ran at an annual deficit of up to £8,000.

The milked funds included a £10,000 bequest from a former church organist and donations from parishioners on low incomes.

Two thirds of the 179 parishioners had incomes of under £10,000 a year, Mr Bridge said.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Davie, who attended the court hearing with PCC members, said people saw the church as a trusted refuge in a high crime area, and that trust was now compromised.

In mitigation, Barras's lawyer, Assumpta O'Rourke, said he spiralled into debt after his previous conviction left him unable to work as a chartered accountant. He wanted to set up a business but could not obtain a bank loan.

He had not cast suspicion on anyone else and was remorseful.

Barras accepted he was going to jail and he had diabetes and mobility problems.

Judge Peter Benson said Barras saw his opportunity when the previous PCC treasurer retired.

"This church is in a community that is deprived and has a high crime rate. People turn to the church feeling that they can mix with people they can trust and it was a refuge from the harsh realities of life in the immediate area," the judge said.

Barras had breached the trust of parishioners, who had made sacrifices to give money to the church.

After the case, the Rev Davie told the Telegraph & Argus: I was very pleased about what the judge said about finding the victim impact statement very moving and I was pleased that I was able to express, on behalf of the churches, the impact of the breakdown of trust that I am sure can be rebuilt.

"We are very sorry that this has all come about and sorry for Mr Barras's family, who knew nothing about this."

Barras' son Jonathan Barras, 25, of Ravenscliffe, said he and his sisters Sarah Barras, 27, and Rachael Taylor, 23, were disgusted by their father's actions.

He said: "He brought all this on himself. We can't support him after what he's done. He duped mum into it and she has to be our priority now, making sure she will be okay. Dad betrayed the church and us - he has no excuse."

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