Porn vicar was investigated six years earlier

10:39pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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By Sally Henfield »

A VICAR who was sacked after being caught downloading child porn was investigated for inappropriate behaviour with teenagers six years earlier, it has been revealed.

Police, council workers and the Church of England carried out an investigation after a concerned parent of a girl at Witton Park High School, Blackburn, made allegations against the Rev Paul Battersby.

At the time, in February 2002, Battersby was the priest in charge at St Mark's Church, close to the school.

But it was decided that there was not sufficient evidence for criminal charges or his suspension over claims he had given two girls cigarettes and alcohol.

However, action was taken by the Church in relation to new national child safety guidelines that were being introduced.

Within a year Battersby had moved to St Ambrose Church in Leyland but its church council was not informed about the allegations.

Battersby was then suspended from duties in 2007 when allegations arose that he had been downloading child porn at his Leyland vicarage.

One video showed the brutal rape of a 10-year-old girl by her father.

Last month he pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children last July and was given a 34-week suspended sentence at Preston Crown Court.

He is no longer employed as a priest by the Church of England.

A church spokesman said that Battersby's move from Blackburn to Leyland was not prompted by the 2002 allegations.

But Witton Park High School governor and Mill Hill ward councillor Damien Talbot has labelled the case 'disturbing' in the light of what happened subsequently.

The 2002 allegations involved two teenaged girls who had been playing truant from school and had been in the grounds of the presbytery when Battersby, now 58, gave them cigarettes and alcohol.

When the allegations against Battersby came to light, the authorities, including experts from the police and social services, held a series of child protective strategy meetings.

No criminal charges were brought and it was felt there were not sufficient grounds for Battersby's suspension by the Diocesan Bishop.

But a spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese said: "We immediately revised Mr Battersby's contract, which he signed in agreement.

"The effect of this was to ensure his future contact with children under 18 was in strict accordance with professional guidelines for the clergy, under the Church of England's nationally agreed 'Safe from Harm' procedures."

This includes a series of measures designed to protect children, including appointing 'child advocates' who will listen to youngsters' problems and displaying the Child Line telephone number in churches.

The spokesman added: "Mr Battersby wrote and asked the then Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, for a move when it was proposed to unite St Mark's Witton with St Luke with St Philip's, Blackburn. He asked the Bishop if the patron might consider him for St Ambrose, Leyland, where he moved in the middle of summer 2003.

"The issues were fully discussed with the police and other professional agencies in light of no police charges having been brought and no police caution issued.

"Therefore when the appointment to St Ambrose was made by the then Bishop of Blackburn 18 months later this was a confidential matter not requiring public disclosure."

Coun Talbot said: "I think if there had been strong concerns then more serious action would have been taken, but it is still worrying. Both the church and the police have very stringent measures in place but it is disturbing to know that this happened."

Battersby's solicitor Peter Turner said: "In February 2002 Rev Battersby had cause to be interviewed about inappropriate behaviour to young girls visiting the vicarage, where cigarettes and alcohol had allegedly been supplied to current and ex-pupils during school time. There was no evidence of any indecent behaviour.

"He was at the time chair of governors at a school and was suspended (from that position) until the investigation cleared him and he was reinstated to the position.

"He was not asked to sign any agreement other then the Safe from Harm policy followed by all clergy."

Father-of-two Battersby was previously a rector at St Peter's Church, Darwen, from 1992 to 1994. During that time he acted as a principal officer in the Blackburn Diocese Board of Social Responsibility.

The church spokesman said: "He was removed from office as a priest on the day he received a suspended prison sentence and is no longer a priest in the Church of England."