THE Gloucestershire Coroner, Alan Crickmore, has been charged with fraud and theft offences involving more than £2million.

Mr Crickmore, 56, faces 12 charges of theft, seven of fraud by abuse of position and one of fraud by false representation.

He has been bailed by Gloucestershire Police to appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on April 9.

Mr Crickmore was charged when he answered to bail at Cheltenham police station this morning (Monday, March 11) after an investigation lasting two years and three months.

A Gloucestershire police spokeswoman said: "This morning, Monday March 11, 56-year-old Alan Crickmore of East Approach Drive in Cheltenham was charged with 12 counts of theft, seven counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of fraud by false representation.

"The charges follow the formal launch of a police investigation in January 2011 into matters under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

"The total amount of money alleged to have been stolen or defrauded is in excess of £2 million."

Mr Crickmore's solicitor's office in Cheltenham High Street was closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in December 2010 because of alleged irregularities.

He was suspended from practising as a solicitor and all his active case files were handed to other firms.

Shortly afterwards he ceased to sit as coroner although he still holds that office. Inquests since then have been conducted by his deputy David Dooley and two assistants.