Britain’s most prolific church burglar has been jailed for four years – after being finally tracked down following a string of burglaries from Beverley to Bridlington.
Christopher Coulthard, 50, has burgled more than 540 churches including churches in Harpham and Skipsea.
He has been a thief since he was 17 spending the last 20 years targeting churches. He was jailed last Wednesday for four years after admitting four burglaries and asking for 34 church burglaries to be taken into consideration.
He was given early release from a six-year sentence in November 2012. He targeted collection boxes and antique safes.
Sentencing at Hull Crown Court Recorder Julian Smith said: “You told the probation officers the money does not belong to anyone. It is there donated and not going to affect anyone. You also commented on the poor return you are now getting compared to the good old days. It is not as you suggest because people are banking money. It is the lack of money about. The collections are diminishing. The churches you burgle are valued to their community.”
Hull Crown Court heard 12 police forces wanted to question Coulthard about burglaries. After initial visits he is now refusing to co-operate.
The alarm was raised in East Yorkshire when he burgled 15 churches in a week, never stealing crosses or artefacts.
Crown barrister Wendy Foster said he was caught after vigilant worshippers at a Sunday service in at Andrew’s Church, Ulrome, near Hornsea, noticed a man acting suspiciously inside the church. Although nothing appeared to be missing from St Andrew’s Church, the witness contacted Humberside Police and officers based at Hornsea Police Station arrested Coulthard five-miles south in Skipsea.
Churches targeted in East Yorkshire included Toll Gavel Methodist Church, Beverley, St Martin’s Church, Burton Agnes and St John’s of Beverley Church, Harpham.
Defence barrister Richard Thompson said Coulthard was released early from his prison sentence even though he did not want to be. He admitted: “There is something inherently unpleasant about burgling churches, he concedes that. He did not take anything other than cash. There was no ransacking or confrontation. There are some hints he plans a different lifestyle in the future.”
Recorder Julian Smith said: “It was clear, this was planned organised offending.”
