How 70 Year Old Catholic Priest Was Arrested For Allegedly Spending £50,000 Of Parish Cash On His Housekeeper Lover

A Roman Catholic priest, John Reid',swindled £50,000 from his parish after falling in love with his housekeeper and lavishing gifts on her.

Judge Christopher Prince called Father John Reid’s fraud an “aberration” that went on for 40 months.

The priest was expected to live a simple, celibate life at St Cuthbert’s Church, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham. But he fell for Gillian Leddy and splashed out church cash on wine and travel for himself, her and her daughters.

Father Reid, 70, now living in Stockton-on-Tees, got an 18-month suspended jail term after admitting fraud. He will repay the £50,000.