Cumbrian Vicar’s Sex Abuse Was Hidden by Church
By Nick Griffiths and Pam McClounie
Church leaders didn’t tell police about claims of child abuse against a cathedral canon because they thought he wouldn’t do it again. Instead of alerting authorities to the allegations made against the Rev Ronald Johns they moved him from his post in Carlisle to Caldbeck. The Diocese of Carlisle has admitted that it “mishandled” the situation surrounding the perverted clergyman after he pleaded guilty to a string of sex crimes. Johns, now 75, committed the offences against three boys over an eight-year period. At Carlisle Crown Court, he admitted 10 offences committed between 1983 and 1991. He will be sentenced for them in November. Speaking after yesterday’s hearing, diocese spokesman Richard Pratt, the Archdeacon of west Cumbria, apologised. He said: “We’ve been deeply shocked and grieved by the Reverend Ron Johns’ admission of child sexual abuse. “It is right that the highest standards should be expected of clergy and he has badly failed his vocation and his profession. We apologise unreservedly to his victims and their families. Our first concern is and must be for them.” Mr Pratt said that when the church was made aware of the allegations in 1993 the then Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Ian Harland, did not alert the authorities, instead moving Johns to a parish in Caldbeck. He explained that the bishop, who died in 2009, had taken advice from a forensic psychiatrist who said Johns was unlikely to repeat such offences. “The decision was taken, absolutely wrongly, that he be moved from the cathedral to Caldbeck. “They should not have done that. They should have got rid of Ron full stop,” Mr Pratt added. He said a new policy had been implemented which follows national guidance from Social Care and the Church of England. “The cathedral also keeps its policies and procedures under constant review with a robust system of chaperoning,” said Mr Pratt. The current Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend James Newcome, said: “I unreservedly condemn this and any abuse. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.” Yesterday’s court appearance followed a police investigation. Officers had previously said the charges followed allegations of offences committed in Cumbria. Johns, who now lives in Kings Road, Coltishall, Norwich, admitted two charges of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency in relation to one victim. He also admitted two charges of gross indecency in relation to another victim and two charges of gross indecency in relation to a third victim. Johns had denied two counts of serious sexual assault and one of gross indecency against the first victim. He also denied indecently assaulting a further male. Tim Brennand, prosecuting, said these charges would not be pursued. Judge Paul Batty QC ordered Johns to sign the sex offenders’ register and released him on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing later in the year. He said custody was “bound to be considered”. Johns was ordered not to contact any prosecution witnesses and not to come to Carlisle unless to attend court. He will be sentenced on November 19. White-haired and portly, and wearing a blue suit, blue striped shirt and tie, Johns spoke clearly throughout the hearing while entering the pleas. Johns was also a vicar at Borrowdale, canon at Carlisle Cathedral between 1989 and 1993, and served as rector of Caldbeck and Castle Sowerby with Sebregham from 1994. He retired at the end of 2000 due to ill health.
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