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Former churchman sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex abuse
Lawyers say conviction shows ‘desperate need’ for Church redress scheme.
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Solicitor, Abuse
The Rev Canon David Tudor of Canvey, Essex is still suspended after four and a half years following a police investigation which was carried out into alleged sexual offences.
The Rev Canon David Tudor was arrested in April 2019 on suspicion of indecent assault, but the investigation was subsequently dropped in August 2022. Mr Tudor was suspended as rector of the Parish of Canvey in 2019 and remains suspended due to a Church of England investigation.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Chelmsford said:
“David Tudor remains suspended from his role as team rector of the Parish of Canvey while he continues to be subject to investigation under the Clergy Discipline Measure.”
“We continue to work closely with the relevant statutory authorities and our thoughts and prayers are with those affected.”
Community leaders believe Mr Tudor is unlikely to return to his role. Mr Tudor has been rector of St Nicholas Church since 2006 and it was alleged the offence took place in the 1980s in Redbridge.
In 2006, the Basildon Canvey Southend Echo reported that Castle Point MP Bob Spink had previously called for the removal of David Tudor after learning Tudor had been jailed for six months in 1988 for indecently assaulting three girls who were aged 13 to 15 years old at the time of the offences.
Tudor served his prison sentence, but an appeal Court hearing quashed the convictions ruling them "unsafe and unsatisfactory". The convictions were overturned on appeal and Tudor was freed.
These allegations were made while David Tudor was chaplain at St Bede's School in Redhill, Surrey. He later became curate of St Philip's Church in Reigate. In a separate case Tudor admitted having sex with a girl but insisted she was 16.
Until he was suspended by the Bishop of Chelmsford in April 2019, Tudor was based at St Nicholas Church in the Anglican Parish Church of Canvey Island, where he was appointed as Rector of Canvey in 2006. In 2008 he was appointed area Dean of Hadleigh.
We're rated‘Excellent’Lawyers say conviction shows ‘desperate need’ for Church redress scheme.
The Church of England has announced plans to launch a scheme that will provide compensation and support to people who experienced physical, emotional or spiritual abuse by someone representing the Church. Hywel Thomas, one of our expert abuse team gives his views.
The Church of England banned a former bishop for life after he was accused of covering up sexual abuse. The CoE reported this to the police and handled the case internally, which is an approach that was recommended recently by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Support for Survivors. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://supportforsurvivors.org (Accessed December 11, 2023).
National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://napac.org.uk (Accessed December 11, 2023).
Simpson Millar Solicitors. (n.d.). No Win No Fee Personal Injury Solicitors. Retrieved from https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/personal-injury-solicitors/no-win-no-fee-personal-injury-solicitors/ (Accessed December 11, 2023).
Echo News. (2023, September 6). Canvey Vicar David Tudor Still Suspended Amid Indecent Assault Claims. Retrieved from https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23774561.canvey-vicar-david-tudor-still-suspended-indecent-assault-claims/ (Accessed December 11, 2023).
Echo News. (2023, May 9). Canvey Vicar David Tudor Still Suspended Amid Indecent Assault Claims. Retrieved from https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23220650.canvey-vicar-david-tudor-still-suspended-indecent-assault-claims/ (Accessed December 11, 2023).
Joshua works as a Solicitor in our Abuse Department, which operates under the leadership of Liam Goggin.
Joshua has been with Simpson Millar since 2019, where he started as a Paralegal in the Abuse Department, a role he stayed in for two years. His dedication and drive then led him to a position as a Trainee Solicitor, where he worked in the Industrial Disease and Military Claims Departments. His passion for representing victims of abuse made him return to the Abuse department, where he completed his training contract and began working as a Solicitor.
He takes immense pride in representing victims of abuse, deeply valuing the trust his clients place in him. Every day, he's reminded of the importance of listening attentively, acting in the clients' best interests, and guiding them through their challenging moments. Ever since he began his legal career, Joshua knew he wanted to help represent victims of abuse. It means a lot to him when clients trust him with their stories and cases. His main goal is to help his clients as much as he can, so they can start to heal and move on.
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