Former Sedlescombe priest charged with historic sexual offences

Ifor Whittaker, 72, now of Rectory Road, Sutton, Surrey, previously known as Colin Pritchard, has been charged with seven offences against the boy, who was then aged under 16, more than 20 years ago.

They are; two offences of inciting the boy to commit an act of gross indecency; two offences of gross indecency; two offences of buggery, and one offence of conspiracy with another man, Roy Cotton, to commit acts of indecency with the boy.

He is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 24.

Whittaker was Vicar of Sedlescombe at the time, and the offences are alleged to have taken place in the vicarage there.

The charges, authorised by the CPS, follow an investigation by the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit and detectives have had full co-operation from the Diocese of Chichester throughout the investigation.

There are no current safeguarding issues for the Church or the local community in relation to this investigation.

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