Church knew of Brede Vicar’s child sex conviction

Rye page 5 lead.

A PAEDOPHILE vicar was allowed to work at churches in Brede and Udimore despite the Church knowing about an earlier sex conviction.

Father Roy Cotton, who died in 2006, was rector of St George’s Church, Brede during the 1990’s up until 1999.

The parish also covers Udimore.

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During that time Cotton had open access to children and even visited Brede Primary School.

Cotton was convicted for a sexual offence against a boy in 1954.

Yet the Church of England has confirmed that a Bishop gave him permission to officiate at Brede, despite his previous conviction, which lay on his church career file.

Cotton even procurred a boy for fellow vicar Colin Pritchard, who preached at nearby Sedlescombe Church.

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Pritchard was jailed for five years in July 2008 after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two boys in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The Diocese of Chichester has appointed a judge to carry out an investigation, following the revelations this week by BBC South East.
The current Bishop of Chichester commissioned an independent investigation into the cases of Pritchard and Cotton.
A hearing at Northampton Crown Court was told how Pritchard’s second victim was introduced to him by Cotton.
This child was abused by both Cotton and Pritchard, the court heard, but prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to charge Cotton before his death.
Archdeacon of Hastings and Lewes, the Venerable Philip Jones said: “The Diocese of Chichester gives the protection of children the highest priority and takes seriously all concerns raised. 
“A review is being undertaken into safeguarding practice in the diocese and we do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of that review and are unable to comment until it is completed.”

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