LONDON: A British vicar who went on the run after pocketing more than 33,700 euros in fees for weddings and funerals handed himself in to police on Monday following appeals from senior clergy.

Simon Reynolds disappeared during a lunch break in the court proceedings against him in Sheffield in northern England last on Thursday, shortly before being found guilty of four counts of theft.

The police had alerted Interpol, fearing that the 50-year-old Anglican clergyman had fled to continental Europe.

Senior clergy including the Bishop of Wakefield, Tony Robinson, had appealed to Reynolds to turn himself in.

“Simon, we would like to assure you that you are in our prayers and all our thoughts at this difficult time,” Robinson said in a personal appeal.

“We are very concerned for your well-being and urge you to be in touch and allow justice to take its course. Never forget we are praying for you”. Reynolds was found guilty of keeping the fees for weddings and funerals for himself, instead of passing them on to diocesan authorities as required.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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