A FINANCIAL consultant accused of stealing nearly £14,000 from a Prestwich doctor over 16 months has appeared before Bury magistrates.

Darren Gerrard, aged 34, is accused of 18 offences of theft from Dr Colin Ogdon's surgery based at Prestwich Health Centre.

In October last year the GP himself, who lives at Holcombe, Bury, was suspended as a doctor by the General Medical Council. He is to appeal against that next month.

Gerrard, who lives in Stockport, is said to have stolen money of varying amounts, as much as £2,000 and as little as £80, between December 1999 and April 2000.

After Gerrard declined to make a plea on any of the charges put to him the magistrates declined jurisdiction in the matter. He was given conditional bail and will appear again on June 29 when committal proceedings to the Crown Court are expected to take place.