A former funeral director has been charged with stealing thousands of pounds from people who pre-paid him for their own funeral arrangements.
Christopher Westcott, 40, used to run Cathedral Funeral Services, in Durham City, but now he is being investigated by police.
Mr Westcott faces four theft charges involving about £4,500 relating to money allegedly handed over by people who pre-paid him for their funeral arrangements.
He faces a further three charges of obtaining money by deception.
All seven charges relate to the period in which he ran Cathedral Funeral Services, which closed its premises in Framwellgate Moor and went out of business more than a year ago.
Mr Westcott, of Smith Close, Sherburn, County Durham, was charged with the offences last Friday following a 15-month investigation by a Durham-based CID officer into the sale of funeral plans.
He has been bailed to appear at Consett Magistrates' Court next Thursday.
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