By Gareth Lightfoot
Evening Gazette
September 11, 2010
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/09/11/redcar-vicar-cleared-of-sex-abuse-charges-84229-27247495/
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A TEESSIDE vicar cried and hugged loved ones and supporters after a jury cleared him of all charges following a trial over sex abuse allegations.
The Reverend Malcolm Jackson looked up slightly with a smile of relief as a jury of seven women and five men delivered their unanimous verdicts.
It took one hour for jurors to find the vicar not guilty on all four charges, which he always denied, at Teesside Crown Court yesterday afternoon.
He was acquitted of rape, attempted rape, sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Mr Jackson, 52, was silent but shaking as sobs, sighs of relief and a whisper of “oh God” were heard in the gallery.
He cried and embraced one of his daughters as he left the dock, then hugged more loved ones and supporters outside the courtroom.
Judge Tony Briggs told the jury: “Thank you for your attention to that difficult and troubling case.” He discharged Mr Jackson from the court.
The clergyman was suspended from his job as vicar of Kirkleatham parish in Redcar but can now return to his job.
He declined to comment after the jury’s verdicts.
Eleanor Course, from the Diocese of York, said: “The Archbishop of York will lift the suspension from his role as vicar of Kirkleatham.
“The Archbishop has recommended that Malcolm takes a few weeks’ break starting with immediate effect.
“We are glad that the Rev Malcolm Jackson has been acquitted of all charges and we are praying for everyone who was involved in the case.”
The vicar was accused of sexually abusing the teenage girl when he was curate of St Nicholas Church in Guisborough.
He denied any wrongdoing and said he never committed any offences towards her or did anything untoward.
“It’s all lies,” he said.
He said he tried to help the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
He said none of the alleged sexual attacks happened and that all of the allegations were “absolute lies”, “crazy” and didn’t make sense.
The married dad-of-four, of Mersey Road, Redcar, said he was stunned, amazed and deeply shocked at the girl’s claims.
He said he had been under a lot of stress and had health problems including angina and depression.
The girl was previously sexually abused by another man who is serving a prison sentence for those crimes.
Adrian Dent, defending, said Mr Jackson was a “well-intentioned, trusting, perhaps naive” vicar whose whole purpose was doing good and serving others.
Mr Jackson was supported by seven testimonials read out in court from referees including two members of the clergy, a church warden and three youth group leaders.
The references said he was popular, respected, friendly, dedicated, hard-working, kind, caring, generous, professional, honest, genuine, sensitive and compassionate.
The Reverend Phillip Bishop, retired rector of Guisborough, said: “He showed himself to be a man of high moral standards.
“He was totally trustworthy dealing with situations which demanded the highest degree of personal integrity. I would trust him absolutely.”
The Reverend Alison Phillipson, vicar of Coatham and Dormanstown parish, a former Cleveland Police officer, said: “I consider Malcolm to be a real asset to the church’s mission as people see him as a very down-to-earth and ordinary person.
“Malcolm is a man I would trust without reservation.
“This view of Malcolm remains unchanged.
“These allegations are completely at odds with his moral standards and go against everything that he believes about what it is to be a human being.”
Youth group leader Sylvia Roberts said he was “an inspiration to young people”.
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