A RETIRED vicar has criticised the police after thieves stole his identity and tried to use credit cards in his name.

The Reverend Ted Spiller claims the case was not looked into properly and says he was made to feel like a criminal.

Last March, Mr Spiller and his wife received a letter saying that, as requested, their mail would now go to an address in London.

The Royal Mail was informed and the redirection was stopped.

Mr Spiller, of Topcliffe Road, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, then discovered that two applications for credit cards in his name had been approved.

He found out what the London address was and told police.

But he claims the police told him he could be charged for contravening the Data Protection Act for obtaining the details.

Mr Spiller said: "The police have not treated this seriously. Our view of the police is that they're rubbish and we have no confidence in them.

"They are always after information from the public, yet when they get it they don't want to know. They treated us like criminals."

Mr Spiller is a former police chaplain and used to be the vicar of St Andrew's, in South Otterington, near Thirsk.

"It's been a frightening time for me and my wife Jean," he said. "We were always so careful and shredded everything.

"I feel hurt that someone out there has our identity and has the power to get our mail diverted. We are too old to have this going on."

Inspector John Richardson, head of North Yorkshire Police's neighbourhood policing team, said: "An investigation was carried out into the crime.

"There was clearly an attempt to make use of their identity, but neither person suffered any financial loss.

"Given that it is now 11 months on, we should be satisfied at this stage that it is extremely unlikely they are going to have any financial liability.

"We have explained all this to the Spillers and we understand their concerns. I am satisfied that a professional investigation took place."

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: "To get mail redirected is quite an intensive process.

"The final check is a follow-up letter telling the resident the change was agreed and in this instance it worked."