A disgraced former church minister and banking group boss known as “Crystal Methodist” has been sentenced to a three-year prison term by a judge in Manchester.

Paul Flowers, now 74, admitted to 18 fraud charges totaling £100,000 after misusing his authority as the executor of a will and power of attorney holder for Margaret Jarvis.

Initially scheduled for sentencing last month, Flowers did not appear leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Flowers, previously a Methodist minister and chair of the Co-operative Bank, made headlines in 2013 when the Mail on Sunday released covert video footage of him arranging to purchase £300 worth of drugs, including crystal meth, in Leeds.

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