Six months in prison for cathedral theft

A Polish immigrant who stole money from heaving donation boxes at Lichfield Cathedral on one of its busiest Sundays of the year has been jailed for six months.Verger Simon Ferguson spotted thief Rafal Cygan, from Tipton, on a recording from the cathedral's closed circuit television system after noticing the transparent containers had been stripped of bank notes and envelopes containing cash. Stafford Crown Court heard yesterday he struck on a day when the boxes were crammed full of donations.

Mr Pat Sullivan, prosecuting, said Cygan returned the following Sunday, April 6, but Mr Ferguson was watching live CCTV so spotted him taking the money and alerted security staff.

Cygan tried to leave with his pregnant wife Agnieszka, whose baby is due in January, but was arrested. He had £46 and his wife £118 in cash.

Cygan, aged 31, of Wordsworth Close, Tipton, admitted two charges of theft.

Recorder Mr Alan Parker told him: "The significance of Lichfield Cathedral to the community cannot be underestimated, standing as it does as the most obvious symbol of the virtues of tolerance and forgiveness and multi-faith co-operation.

"Its structure is of immense architectural importance and beauty, studied by many who have no spiritual connection with the building.

"It must cost several thousand pounds a day just to preserve its structure.

"That money is provided in the main part by donations from visitors. The donors give as much as they can from taxed income, savings and pensions."

He added: "Even in this age of cynicism and anxiety about the risk of crime, most right-thinking people would expect that any church would be immune from the attentions of criminals.

"Generous people of limited means who make donations to places of worship must be assured their donations are secure."

Mr Sullivan said it was not known how Cygan had removed the money out of the boxes but he had a drinking straw and some tape.

He initially claimed that his visit to the cathedral was innocent and that he was making a donation.

Mr Shane Crawford, defending, said Cygan, normally a hard working man, had pleaded guilty.