A VICAR'S wife has appeared in court charged with stealing thousands of pounds from her employer.Tracey Morgan, whose husband is the Rev Ian Morgan, is accused of seven specimen counts of theft from Boulter Buderus.

By Jonathan Barnes

A VICAR'S wife has appeared in court charged with stealing thousands of pounds from her employer.

Tracey Morgan, whose husband is the Rev Ian Morgan, is accused of seven specimen counts of theft from Boulter Buderus.

The charges, dating from between February 1999 and June this year, amount to a combined total of £10,000.

She is accused of stealing debts owed to the firm, based in Whitehouse Road, each between £500 and £2,500.

Mrs Morgan, 43, of Ancaster Road, Ipswich, appeared before magistrates in Ipswich yesterday but did not enter a plea to the charges.

She worked as a personnel office manager for the firm, which makes boilers, and does not work for the church.

She was told to return to the court on January 7 for the case to be committed to crown court.

Mrs Morgan's husband is team rector of the South West Ipswich Team Ministry.

In the latest edition of the team ministry's leaflet, a note explains that Rev Morgan has been granted a period of leave "for pastoral reasons".

Church bosses have pledged to support Rev Morgan and his wife.

Following Mrs Morgan being charged last week, Nick Clarke, communications director for the Diocese of Ipswich and St Edmundsbury, said: "The thoughts and prayers of the members of the churches of the South West Ipswich Team Ministry go out to her and her husband, the Reverend Ian Morgan.

"The diocese continues to fully support the Reverend Ian Morgan and his ministry. As this is now a matter for the courts, the church will be making no further comment at this time."