No Further Action Taken against Great Yarmouth Catholic Priest

By Lauren Rogers
Norwich Evening News
May 7, 2014

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/no_further_action_taken_against_great_yarmouth_catholic_priest_1_3588882?usurv=skip

Father David Jennings at St Mary's Catholic Church, Regent Road, Great Yarmouth. Photo: Steve Adams Father David Jennings at St Mary's Catholic Church, Regent Road, Great Yarmouth. Photo: Steve Adams

Father David Jennings, parish priest of St Mary’s Church in Regent Road, Great Yarmouth, was arrested by Norfolk police on January 9.

The Catholic Diocese of East Anglia said there would be no comment on the matter.

A spokesman for Norfolk police said: “Following detailed enquiries, no further action will be taken against a 57-year-old man from Great Yarmouth arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.”

At the time of Father Jenning’s arrest, a statement issued by the Diocese of East Anglia confirmed the priest had voluntarily withdrawn from “all active ministry” as well as his position as a governor of St Mary’s Primary School in Gorleston, and as a member of the Safeguarding Commission for the Diocese with immediate effect.

“His withdrawal makes no judgement of guilt or innocence but is in accord with the safeguarding procedures of the Catholic Church of England and Wales,” the diocese said.

Norwich-born Father Jennings, who was ordained in 1993, became parish priest for St Mary’s Church in September 2012, also overseeing St Edmunds in Acle and St Ignatius in Caister. He had previously served in Cambridge, Peterborough and Wymondham and months before moving to Yarmouth, was given the Freedom of the City of Peterborough in recognition of his services to the city.