Constable goes on trial

Monday 02 June 2014

Former St John Constable Graeme Butcher appeared in the Royal Court this morning charged with 15 counts of misconduct in a public office.

He is alleged to have dishonestly used the Parish credit card to pay for petrol and other goods and of having charged other personal expenditure to the Parish account, including a bathroom suite on which he sought to avoid paying GST.

Butcher, who faces trial by jury, is also accused of dishonestly obtaining over £935 in petty cash, falsifying an invoice to cover his tracks and of instructing the Parish secretary to conceal his use of the credit card to buy petrol by hiding the entry within the Parish accounts. He denies all the charges.

Crown Advocate William Redgrave told the court that Butcher was a 'popular and effective Constable', but that the offences were committed through 'arrogance' and the belief that he could 'get himself something for nothing' and that no-one would ever find out.

The trial is expected to last a full week and a number of Parish officials, including the secretary, a current Procureur and two former Constables have been called as witnesses for the prosecution.

All offences relate to the period from December 2006 until November 2011, when Butcher resigned as Constable.