Coroner on fraud and theft charges (From Cotswold Journal)

Coroner on fraud and theft charges

3:00pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

GLOUCESTERSHIRE coroner Alan Crickmore has been charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft, believed to total more than £2 million.

The 56-year-old from East Approach Drive, Cheltenham, was charged with 12 counts of theft, seven of fraud by abuse of position and one of fraud by false representation.

The charges follow a police investigation launched in January 2011 after his Cheltenham law firm was closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and he was suspended from practising.

Mr Crickmore became deputy coroner for Gloucester in 1990 and took over as the city coroner in 2002.

Three years later he also took on the role of the coroner for the Cotswolds and combined the two jobs.

His deputy David Dooley, along with assistants Katy Skerrett and Tom Osborne have conducted inquests at Gloucestershire Coroners Court since his suspension.

He has been bailed to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on April 9.