UK - Sex quiz vicar on gun charges

[Steven Mace]

13.02.02

Sex quiz vicar on gun charges

A VICAR has been charged with firearm offences after a handgun and bullets were found in his home by police.

American-born Michael Daggett, 53, was arrested at the vicarage on Moorside Road, Swinton, yesterday.

He has now been relieved of his church duties.

A police spokesman said this afternoon: ''A 53-year-old man from the Swinton area has been charged with possession of a handgun.

''He has been bailed to appear before Salford magistrates on Monday - and inquiries are on-going into an allegation of a sexual offence.''

Officers who went to his home seized a Derringer pistol and ammunition and Mr Daggett was taken in a van to Swinton police station and charged.

Mr Daggett, of the Church of the Holy Rood, had been due to lead a morning healing service at his church today, but his place was taken by the Archdeacon of Manchester, the Venerable Alan Wolstencroft.

Mr Wolstencroft said: ''Police are investigating domestic and private matters and until they are clarified or resolved, Michael Daggett has been relieved of his duties. He has been here 11 years and he is well-loved and respected in the parish and in local schools where he has taught.''

One of Mr Daggett's neighbours said: ''He is a very well educated man and very articulate. Since he arrived at Holy Rood, he has increased the number of churchgoers. He is very popular.''

Mr Daggett is originally from Oregon in the United States and - from his first marriage - has a daughter who lives in America.

In 1997, he helped set up a theological study centre in Swinton.

The courses, led by a Manchester University lecturer, were held at the vicarage.

Before joining Holy Rood, Mr Daggett was assistant curate at St George's Church in Tyldesley.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/content.cfm?story=232080&archive=archive

Steve Mace

[Steven Mace]

Vicar on firearms charges bailed

Feb 18 2002

A Church of England vicar accused of keeping a loaded handgun at his home has appeared in court on firearms charges.

Michael Daggett, 53, of The Vicarage, Moorside Road, Swinton, of the Church of the Holy Rood, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

Daggett originally from Oregon in the US, was remanded on conditional bail to reappear at Salford Magistrates Court on March 18.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200nationalnews/page.cfm?objectid=11629093&method=full

Steve Mace

[Steven Mace]

Wednesday, 22nd May

Jail warning to vicar who kept gun
A VICAR has been warned he could face jail after admitting keeping a gun hidden in a grandfather clock at his vicarage.

Rev. Michael Daggett, 53, of the Church of The Holy Rood in Swinton, had told police he kept the Frontier Derringer for protection.

Detectives found boxes of bullets when they went to the vicarage investigating a different matter.

The vicar showed them a grandfather clock in which the Derringer was hidden. He warned police "be careful the gun is loaded'' and an armourer made it safe, Salford magistrates were told.

Mr Daggett pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, but a second charge, which he had denied, of keeping a cartridge with a bullet designed to explode on impact, has been dropped.

He is due to be sentenced on June 25, and he was warned by magistrates that all options were under consideration, including a custodial sentence.

Mr Daggett was born in the US and came to study in England in 1986. He has been vicar of Holy Rood for 11 years.

In the US, the twice divorced clergyman was a member of the pro-gun campaign group the National Rifle Association, and is trained to use the weapon.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/content.cfm?story=352421

Steve Mace

[Steven Mace]

Tuesday, 25 June, 2002, 12:42 GMT 13:42 UK

Vicar jailed for keeping loaded gun
The gun was brought into England from the US

A vicar has been jailed for four months after keeping a loaded gun hidden in a grandfather clock at his vicarage in Greater Manchester.

On Tuesday Salford Magistrates' court heard how the Reverend Michael Daggett, 54, kept the gun for protection.

Daggett, a US citizen, came to the UK in 1984, before becoming vicar at The Church of the Holy Rood, Swinton, in 1990.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.

The court heard how police visited the vicarage in Moorside Road, Salford, in February, while investigating another matter.

Howard Shaw, prosecuting, said they found four boxes of .22 bullets in a downstairs cabinet. Another box of bullets was found in a bedside cabinet.

Daggett later told the officer the German-made double barrelled Frontier Derringer was for his protection.

It was revealed in court he had once caught a burglar inside the vicarage.

'Different culture'

Mark Benson, defending, said the gun was a family heirloom that had been given to Daggett by a friend of his father's when he was a child.

Mr Benson said: "He would not have needed a licence to hold such a gun in the United States, there's a different culture there.

"There was a genuine belief on his behalf that a weapon of that calibre was not prohibited."

Mr Benson said Daggett had loaded the gun "out of curiosity" and was intending to use it at a shooting range but had never got round to it.

'Wrong hands'

But Judge John Finestein said: "I reject the suggestion that is being made that you do not know about the gun laws in this country.

"You were in possession of an extremely dangerous weapon for your protection in your bedroom.

"In these situations guns have been used where burglaries have happened and the gun could get into the wrong hands."

Daggett intends to appeal against the sentence, but he was told he would serve at least two months of it before being released.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2065000/2065267.stm

Steve Mace