Man in court on charity theft charge

A former adviser to the Salvation Army appeared in court yesterday charged with stealing pounds 853,000 from the charity.

Stuart Christopher Ford, 44, of Stechford, Birmingham, faced 23 charges of theft from the client account of Edge and Ellison, a Birmingham firm of solicitors, in 1992.

Mr Ford had been involved in an investment programme for the charity. The prosecution alleges he used Salvation Army money to clear personal debts. He was granted conditional bail to reappear by Bow Street magistrates.