Ex-minister convicted 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.

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.

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."

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.

"I will be delighted when he is brought to justice."

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.

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.

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

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."

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, 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 told her he had divorced his wife and moved in with her.

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