A PRIEST has denied pocketing nearly £12,000 defrauded from church bosses and parishioners while serving at a church in Halstead.

Father David Clarke, formerly the parish priest at St Francis of Assisi Church, in Colchester Road, Halstead, appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday to deny two counts of fraud by false representation between 2010 and 2014.

Appearing in the dock dressed in black and wearing his dog collar, Clarke denied defrauding the Diocese of Brentwood by £8,069, for a lease vehicle he no longer had.

He also denied claiming £3,866 in stipend and stole fees, or church donations, that he was not entitled to.

The 66-year-old spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter not guilty pleas.

Malcolm Bravery, prosecuting, said the case was only suitable for a trial at the crown court because of the serious nature of the allegations.

He said: “Father Clarke was a parish priest in Halstead at the Roman Catholic church there. There are two allegations, there is potentially a serious breach of trust.”

The court heard Clarke was entitled to claim money from the Diocese of Brentwood for a hire car but he is alleged to have returned it because of his poor eyesight, without telling church bosses.

Stole fees are paid to a priest by parishioners in return for the performance of sacraments or rites. Clarke is alleged to have failed to inform church bosses about the total payments he received.

The American-based priest belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland, in Oregon, but has been serving in parishes in the UK while carrying out history research at Cambridge University.

Since leaving Halstead in 2014, Clarke has been serving at St Aidan’s Church in Northampton, where he now lives.

The bishop of the Diocese of Northampton, Peter Doyle, has suspended him from duty.

A spokesman for the diocese, said: “Suspension is a normal procedure and does not imply guilt. Please pray for Father Clarke at this difficult time.”

Clarke will stand trial at Basildon Crown Court on May 11.