'Fake vicar' accused of stealing £25,000

A man accused of masquerading as a Church of England vicar today appeared in court charged with defrauding charities to the tune of £25,000.
George Gordon, 51, who was known as ‘the Reverend’, allegedly siphoned off European grant funding for voluntary groups helping some of the most vulnerable people in Britain.
The money he is accused of stealing was earmarked for helping victims of depression, sexual abuse and mental disorders.
Gordon was arrested after a nationwide public appeal for help to trace him during which police issued a picture of him in his dog collar.
It was claimed Gordon - who is said to have degrees from Cambridge and Lampeter universities – obtained his clerical title from a Canadian website.
He landed a job on the Merseyside Disability Federation, a panel which met monthly to award grants after becoming involved with the local branch of the Bipolar Organisation.
It is alleged he diverted social fund grants from Brussels destined for charities and community projects.
Today Gordon, from Toxteth, Liverpool dressed more plainly as he appeared before Liverpool magistrates court charged with 24 offences including fraud by false representation, false accounting, obtaining money transfer by deception and failing to surrender to police bail.

 

The charges which span from November 2004 to 2007 allege he falsified documents on behalf of 'Somewhere Else Mental Health Project', 'Healthcare Profession Support Network' and 'Synergy Training Projects'.
He is also said to have falsified signatures on contracts of 'Synergy Training Projects', 'Phoenix Survivors Group', 'Karonga Garden Project', 'Borderline Personality Disorder', 'University Disability Fellowship' and 'Adlam Accessible Allotments'.
Gordon is also accused of obtaining money by deception from 'Manic Depression Fellowship' of £10,800, from 'Blue Skies Project' of £8,700 on various dates plus another £950 and £5,000 from the 'Surviving Suicide Group'.

Unholy: George Gordon arriving at Liverpool Crown court where he faces charges of fraud by false representation

He is said to have hired a room at the 3TC centre in Crosby Road North, Waterloo, where it is alleged he conducted a fraud involving students with mental health problems.
He ran the scheme from August 2006 until December 2007.
Today he made no plea to the charges and the case was adjourned for a committal hearing on August 9.
Gordon was granted bail on condition he lives at an address he gave to the court.


Read more: dailymail