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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex-minister convicted of bigamy | Ex-minister convicted of bigamy |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A former church minister and ex-policeman was found guilty of bigamy. | A former church minister and ex-policeman was found guilty of bigamy. |
| Roderick Sangster, 58, married Janet Pollard, with whom he lived in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, while still married to Jill Sangster in 2004. | Roderick Sangster, 58, married Janet Pollard, with whom he lived in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, while still married to Jill Sangster in 2004. |
| Sangster, whose address was given as Chester, was not present during his trial at Warwick Crown Court where he was also convicted of forgery. | Sangster, whose address was given as Chester, was not present during his trial at Warwick Crown Court where he was also convicted of forgery. |
| The court heard he left both women heavily in debt. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. | The court heard he left both women heavily in debt. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. |
| Judge Coates, who quoted Oscar Wilde's famous line "bigamy is having one wife too many - monogamy is the same", said: "This is the first time I have dealt with a case of bigamy and I have been at the Bar for 35 years." | Judge Coates, who quoted Oscar Wilde's famous line "bigamy is having one wife too many - monogamy is the same", said: "This is the first time I have dealt with a case of bigamy and I have been at the Bar for 35 years." |
| Speaking outside the court Mrs Sangster, to whom he is still legally married, said: "It's just the start. We need to find him now." | Speaking outside the court Mrs Sangster, to whom he is still legally married, said: "It's just the start. We need to find him now." |
| Declared bankrupt | Declared bankrupt |
| Janet Wallace, formerly Pollard, whom Sangster married illegally, said: "I'm just delighted. I've come through this and my life is good. | Janet Wallace, formerly Pollard, whom Sangster married illegally, said: "I'm just delighted. I've come through this and my life is good. |
| "I will be delighted when he is brought to justice." | "I will be delighted when he is brought to justice." |
| Sangster married Janet Pollard (right) while still married to Jill Sangster | Sangster married Janet Pollard (right) while still married to Jill Sangster |
| Det Sgt Cawail Wong, from Warwickshire Police, urged Sangster to hand himself in. | Det Sgt Cawail Wong, from Warwickshire Police, urged Sangster to hand himself in. |
| The trial was told Sangster studied divinity at Aberdeen University for five years and qualified as a Church of Scotland minister at St Andrews. | The trial was told Sangster studied divinity at Aberdeen University for five years and qualified as a Church of Scotland minister at St Andrews. |
| Mrs Sangster was forced to declare herself bankrupt after discovering her husband had run up a debt of £30,000, while Ms Pollard was left with a bill for £55,000. | Mrs Sangster was forced to declare herself bankrupt after discovering her husband had run up a debt of £30,000, while Ms Pollard was left with a bill for £55,000. |
| Sangster, a former Grampian policeman and Metropolitan Police officer was also found guilty of forging Ms Pollard's signature to obtain a £10,000 loan from Northern Rock. | Sangster, a former Grampian policeman and Metropolitan Police officer was also found guilty of forging Ms Pollard's signature to obtain a £10,000 loan from Northern Rock. |
| The women found out about one another after Mrs Sangster, of Perth, Scotland, contacted Ms Pollard when she was chasing up her husband's debts. | The women found out about one another after Mrs Sangster, of Perth, Scotland, contacted Ms Pollard when she was chasing up her husband's debts. |
| Internet dating | Internet dating |
| Mrs Sangster said: "[Ms Pollard, from Fife, in Scotland] She said she was married to a Rod Sangster and was it the same one? | Mrs Sangster said: "[Ms Pollard, from Fife, in Scotland] She said she was married to a Rod Sangster and was it the same one? |
| "I got out the wedding photos and showed her and she confirmed it was him." | "I got out the wedding photos and showed her and she confirmed it was him." |
| Mr Sangster married Mrs Sangster in Florida on 6 August 1996 after divorcing his first wife Frances Tait, from Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, to whom he was legally married for 25 years and with whom he had four children. | Mr Sangster married Mrs Sangster in Florida on 6 August 1996 after divorcing his first wife Frances Tait, from Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, to whom he was legally married for 25 years and with whom he had four children. |
| Sangster left his second wife Mrs Sangster in 2002 and began divorce proceedings, but did not see them through. | Sangster left his second wife Mrs Sangster in 2002 and began divorce proceedings, but did not see them through. |
| Sangster, whose last known address was the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Trinity Street, Chester, wrote a letter to Mrs Sangster in 2003 telling her she would not get a divorce. | Sangster, whose last known address was the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Trinity Street, Chester, wrote a letter to Mrs Sangster in 2003 telling her she would not get a divorce. |
| He then found a job at a hotel in Evesham, Worcestershire, and started internet dating Ms Pollard, who was recovering from cancer. | He then found a job at a hotel in Evesham, Worcestershire, and started internet dating Ms Pollard, who was recovering from cancer. |
| He told her he had divorced his wife and moved in with her. | He told her he had divorced his wife and moved in with her. |
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| Roderick Sangster was absent from court |