Mersey Child Porn Vicar Facing Expulsion from Church of England Post

Wirral News
March 20, 2014

http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/news/local-news/mersey-child-porn-vicar-facing-6840735

Rev Ian Hughes

A disgraced Merseyside vicar is facing expulsion from his Church of England post after being jailed for making and possessing indecent images of children.

Church disciplinary procedures have now been launched against Reverend Ian Hughes after he was handed a 12-month sentence in January.

Under the guidelines issued to church leaders, Rev Hughes could be removed and banned from office for life.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to making and possessing thousands of child porn images at a crown court hearing earlier this year.

Rev Hughes, who was priest in charge of Wirral parishes Poulton and Seacombe, admitted 16 counts relating to more than 8,000 images and movies.

He also admitted possession of an extreme pornographic image that was “grossly offensive and disgusting” involving an animal.

After Hughes was sentenced, Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster, slammed Rev Hughes’ actions as “unacceptable” and announced church disciplinary procedures would be launched.

Typically, these begin after criminal cases have been concluded.

Rev Hughes’ case will be conducted under Section 30 of the Clergy Discipline Measure, which considers situations where priests or deacons are given prison sentences or placed on safeguarding lists.

The procedure will see the relevant Bishop consult with his president of tribunals before sending Rev Hughes a notice of the intended punishment in writing.

The guidelines add: “If the decision is to impose the penalty [of removal], that person may request the archbishop of the relevant province to review the decision and upon such a review the archbishop may uphold or reverse the decision after consideration of all the circumstances, including any representations made under this subsection.”

Hughes was charged following a search of his home on Brougham Road, Wallasey, on May 22 last year.

Following his arrest on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children he was suspended by both the Church of England and Wallasey school Park Primary where he was a governor.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Chester confirmed: “Our clergy discipline procedure has started with regard to the case of Ian Hughes.”