A FORMER church minister who worked at a hotel in Evesham allegedly entered into a bigamous marriage, a court heard.

Roderick Sangster, aged 58, is alleged to have married Janet Pollard in July 2004 while still married to a woman called Jill Jackson before leaving them both thousands of pounds in debt, Warwick Crown Court was told.

Sangster, who did not attend his trial yesterday, is also accused of forging Ms Pollard's signature to obtain a £10,000 loan from Northern Rock.

Sangster, whose last known address was the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Trinity Street, Chester, married Ms Jackson in Florida on August 6 1996, after legally divorcing his first wife of 25 years, with whom he had four children.

He left Ms Jackson in 2002, forcing her to declare herself bankrupt after discovering that Sangster had run up a debt of £30,000.

Sangster then found employment at a hotel in Evesham and started internet dating where he met Ms Pollard, who was recovering from cancer.

He moved in with her in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, after telling her he had divorced Ms Jackson.

They married in the town before moving to Scotland.

The trial continues.