Clergyman to stand trial accused of £13,000 fraud

The Rural Dean of Clare is to stand trial accused of defrauding his own church of more than £13,000.

The Rev Ian Finn, 55, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday when he pleaded not guilty to an offence of fraud by abuse of position.

Finn, of Hopton Rise, Haverhill, who is an honorary canon at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, is alleged to have committed the offences over a seven-year period.

The charge relates to the alleged loss of £13,204 from fees paid for church services between 2007 and 2014 by false accounting.

Finn, who spoke only to confirm his name and to plead not guilty, is the rector of St Mary the Virgin Church in Haverhill.

He has been suspended from his post since an investigation by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich began into alleged financial irregularities in February last year.

Judge David Goodin told Finn that his trial is due to take place in early May.