Prolific church burglar warned of substantial prison sentence (From Western Telegraph)

Prolific church burglar warned of substantial prison sentence

A MAN accused of being Britain's most prolific church burglar has been warned he faces a substantial prison sentence.

Forty-year-old Christopher Coulthard has admitted breaking into 17 churches across Wales, including several in the Pembrokeshire. But he will be asked to admit a further 417 burglaries at churches all over the country.

District Judge Vivian Manning Davies said the offences were 'absolutely shocking'.

Most of the churches were in Dyfed and Powys.

His barrister, Paul Thomas, said he did not know at this stage how many of the remaining 417 break-ins Coulthard would finally admit to. They will be put to Coulthard as offences to be taken into consideration when he is sentenced on January 3rd at Swansea Crown Court.

Judge Manning Davies said he would reserve the case to himself. But first he wanted to see the outcome of a psychiatrist's examination of Coulthard, who is from Bedworth in Warwickshire.

Judge Manning Davies said he had seen papers listing about 100 further churches.

But Mr Thomas said he had a list of more than 400 extra offences and Coulthard would have to decide how many he would admit.

Judge Manning Davies warned Coulthard: "These are really absolutely shocking. There is no doubt you face a substantial sentence of immediate custody."

Although the court would be assisted by the psychiatrist's report Coulthard was warned he should not 'run away' with the idea it makes much difference.

After his arrest Coulthard was found to have Ordnance Survey maps of Britain with churches circled in ink. He was remanded in custody until January 3rd.