A WOMAN claiming to be a victim of an ex-vicar convicted of child sex offences says she is shocked he is still able to attend church in East Grinstead and use the title "Reverend".
Guy Bennett was jailed in 1999 for indecently assaulting three young girls in his care.
The offences involved 11-year-old victims between 1976 and 1988 while he was a teacher at St Mary's School in Oxted.
But the Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted in a letter he is powerless to prevent him from referring to himself as "Reverend" or wearing a clerical collar.
Writing to Lucy Duckworth, who has waived her right to anonymity, Justin Welby said Bennett, who lives in Lewes Road, had been banned from holding any office in church. But he added: "Regrettably, although we can ban someone from ever officiating at worship and wearing robes for worship, or passing themselves off as a priest in good standing, we cannot prevent them from using the title 'The Reverend' or even from wearing a clerical collar. In fact anyone is able to wear such dress, providing they do not do so for illegal purposes. As it stands, I do not have the powers to depose Bennett from clerical orders, though I well understand your sense of injustice about that."
Ms Duckworth, chairman of the Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors Committee, suggests that Bennett must "not call himself a vicar, attend any services or events in this role or wear his robes" and be moved at least 30 miles away from Oxted – where he committed the crimes.
She made a complaint of sexual abuse against Bennett to Surrey Police in 2008, but following the arrest and investigation of three men in their 70s, the Crown Prosecution Service failed to authorise any charges. After raising the issue with the Archbishop and receiving his reply, Ms Duckworth said: "It leaves me feeling bemused, baffled, angry, frustrated and absolutely shocked that this is happening. If he's powerless to remove convicted child abusers from the institution then they've got some real questions to be asking themselves."
She became aware of his attendances at an East Grinstead Church following a campaign to the Diocese of Chichester.
The 32-year-old from London says she was abused at a school and in church between the ages of 5 and 11. "As soon as I was able to articulate the abuse I spoke to police and to the church – about six years ago – but when I came forward people just wouldn't believe it. I have even been spat at in my home town."
Mr Welby confirmed Bennett is a member of a congregation at an unnamed church in East Grinstead, but his attendance is "under strict terms of agreement and in accordance with national safeguarding practice".
He added: "The incumbent is fully aware of this, and in particular that Bennett must have no contact whatsoever with the school associated with the parish. By having a managed agreement of attendance, at least everyone knows where Bennett is.
"If there was an attempt to ban him from any attendance, then he might try to attend churches of any denomination anywhere, and they would not know anything of his background.
"It is clear that Guy Bennett is likely to need this form of management to the end of his days and now that he is the subject of such an agreement, if he disappears from that church, or attempts to go elsewhere, we can do something to trace his involvement and alert the church concerned about it."
Bennett, the former vicar of St Mary's Church in Oxted, was jailed for nine months and put on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. He denied four further offences which were left on file.
The Courier contacted Guy Bennett but had not received a response as we went to press.
In response to the BBC, he denied abusing Ms Duckworth and said he does not refer to himself as "Reverend". He also said he has not worn a clerical collar for about ten years, though he is pictured doing so in 2008.
