Former Oxfordshire deputy coroner Jeremy Bright has been charged with 79 counts of theft and forgery relating to client accounts at his old firm.

Mr Bright, 61, who lives in Bletchingdon, was a partner of Oxford solicitors Challenor Gardiner. He no longer works for the firm.

He also held the post of deputy coroner until he resigned in the wake of the allegations against him. Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police Fraud Squad, Mr Bright was yesterday charged with the theft and forgery offences.

Mr Bright became a solicitor in 1965 and was appointed deputy coroner in the mid-1980s.

He was formerly in charge of the firm's branch at Templars Square, Cowley. The firm's main offices are at the Westgate Centre in Oxford.

It is alleged that Mr Bright misused clients' accounts. He is due to appear before Oxford magistrates on January 7.

Story date: Thursday 16 December

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