A FORMER church minister from Chester convicted of bigamy and forgery was jailed for three years yesterday.

Roderick Sangster, whose last known address was the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Trinity Street, Chester, was found guilty of entering into a bigamous marriage by a jury at Warwick Crown Court in November.

The 58-year-old’s trial was conducted in his absence, but he handed himself in to police in the south of England earlier this week.

The court previously heard Sangster wed Janet Wallace while still married to Jill Sangster, leaving them both thousands of pounds in debt.

Judge Marten Coates told him: “You left your first wife when debts had risen to impossible levels.

“You left your second wife bankrupt and your third partner almost destitute.

“Your motives, I am sure, were dishonest from the start.”

“Bigamy cases are rare. I think they are rare because the public has a greater regard for the institution and obligations of marriage than you do.”

His barrister, Adam Western, said Sangster wanted to apologise to the women involved – his first wife of 25 years, Frances Tait, his second wife, Jill Sangster, and Janet Wallace, whom he married illegally in 2004.

Mr Western said: “He asks and wants to tell the court through me that he regrets the hurt and embarrassment he has caused these women, in particular Janet.”

Only Jill Sangster was present at court yesterday as he was given a three-year sentence for bigamy, 12 months for a charge of forgery and two months for failing to attend his trail – all to run concurrently.

A statement was read out by Detective Sergeant Cawail Wong on behalf of the women and their families following the hearing.

Mr Wong said: “We are pleased with the outcome at court and that the case is finally over.