Church minister bigamist urged to face sentence.

A FORMER church minister found guilty of bigamy was urged to hand himself in to face his sentence.

Roderick Sangster, 58, a former Church of Scotland Minister, wed Janet Wallace while working at a Midland hotel and still married to his wife Jill Sangster, leaving them both thousands of pounds in debt.

Sangster, who did not attend his trial, denied a charge of bigamy and a charge of forgery. But a jury at Warwick Crown Court found him guilty on both counts.

There were cries of joy from the public gallery, where Sangster's three "wives", Frances Tait, who he divorced in 1996, his second wife Jill Sangster, who he is still married to, and Janet Wallace, formerly Pollard, with whom he entered into a bigamous marriage, were sitting.

Judge Marten Coates adjourned sentencing until December 5 to give police time to find Sangster, who faces a prison sentence. The court heard a bench warrant for his arrest has been issued. Prosecutor David Jones said: "We do not know where he has gone. Extensive inquiries have been made."

Judge Coates said: "This is the first time I have dealt with a case of bigamy and I have been at the Bar for 35 years." Speaking outside court, Mrs Sangster said: "It's just the start. We need to find him now." Mrs Wallace said: "I've come through this and my life is good. I will be delighted when he is brought to justice."