Lisa Rose, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS Central Fraud Group said: ?I have today authorised West Midlands police to charge Stephen Methuen for false accounting and cheating the public revenue following alleged fraud involving more than ?500,000 whilst treasurer at two Christian charities. This follows a joint HMRC and police investigation. ?Stephen Methuen is charged with six counts of false accounting allegedly committed in order to disguise the embezzlement of more than ?400,000 over a period of six years between 2003 and 2009, whilst Treasurer to the Amblecote Christian Centre in Stourbridge. He is further charged with five offences of cheating the revenue by submitting over-inflated gift aid repayment claims on behalf of the charity which he allegedly went on to embezzle. ?I have also authorised charge of a further six counts of false accounting committed over a period of six years between 2003 and 2009 whilst Stephen Methuen was the treasurer of the Christian International Relief Mission. These charges relate to the alleged embezzlement of ?117,957.16. ?This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case. ?Stephen Methuen will appear before Dudley Magistrates? Court on 2 March 2012. ?He is now charged with criminal offences and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice this trial."