A POPULAR Roman Catholic priest has been charged with fraud following a two-year investigation, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Parish priest Father John Reid was initially arrested in May 2014 after it was alleged cash had gone missing while he was in charge of St Cuthbert’s Church in Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Following a lengthy investigation, police have confirmed that the 68-year-old clergyman will face court next month after being charged with two counts of fraud when he answered bail earlier this week.

The amount of money involved in the alleged fraud has not been disclosed but, during the course of the investigation, officers obtained an order from Peterlee Magistrates’ Court to temporarily retain £1,770-worth Euros and £675 Sterling officers had previously found at his home.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Father John Reid has been charged with two offences under the Fraud Act of 2006.”

He is due to appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on August 30.

After the allegations first surfaced, Fr Reid, who was parish priest for both St Cuthbert’s Church, in Chester-le-Street and St Bede’s Church, in Sacriston, voluntarily withdrew from public ministry and was last known to be living at St Patrick’s Presbytery, Fairfield Road, in Stockton, while inquiries continued.

A statement released by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle last night said: “Following investigations by Durham Constabulary and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, it is confirmed that Father John Reid, Parish Priest of St Cuthbert’s Catholic Church, Chester-le-Street and St Bede’s Catholic Church, Sacriston, has been charged with two offences contrary to Sections 1 & 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.

“He is bailed to appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 30 2016.

“Following his arrest, Father John Reid voluntarily withdrew from public ministry during the course of the investigations, and this will remain in place during court proceedings.

“The Right Reverend Seamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, has been aware of the situation throughout, and arranged for another priest to provide pastoral care of the parishes of Chester-le-Street and Sacriston.

“The bishop also provided for the pastoral care of Father John Reid.

“The Diocese is cooperating fully with Durham Constabulary over this matter until it is resolved.”

Since being ordained into the priesthood in March 1971, Fr Reid has served in a number of parish positions across County Durham including Leadgate, Tow Law and Our Lady and St Thomas’ in Willington, before being appointed to St Cuthbert’s Church in 2009.

A keen Sunderland fan who led regular pilgrimages to the religious site of Lourdes in France, Fr Reid is a long-standing supporter of the Ushaw College catholic seminary near Durham and sat on the council of the St Cuthbert’s Society, founded in 1854 as an association of Ushaw alumni.