Community shock over vicar's porn charges

8:38pm Wednesday 1st August 2007

CHURCH leaders have spoken of their shock and hurt after a former Blackburn vicar admitted downloading child porn.

The Rev Paul Battersby, who was priest in charge at St Mark's Church in Witton for four years and was previously a rector at St Peter's Church, Darwen, is awaiting sentence after admitting three counts of downloading indecent images of children.

The father-of-two, who has been vicar at St Ambrose Church in Leyland since 2003, was arrested in May after police seized his computer, and appeared at Chorley Magistrates' Court on July 20, where he admitted the charges.

Two other charges were withdrawn because the prosecution could not prove that the girls in the images were under 18.

Battersby, was suspended from the priesthood after charges were brought against him and will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on August 20.

He remains suspended, and proceedings will now be taken against him under the Church of England's Clergy Disciplinary Measure.

Battersby was previously the national youth officer for the Church of England and worked as a teacher before joining the clergy. He also acted as a principal officer in the Blackburn Diocese Board of Social Responsibility, from 1994 to 1999.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, said that his admissions of guilt were hurtful to the whole Christian community.

The Bishop said: "This is a tragic case and my thoughts and prayers are with all those involved. Many people, including some of the most vulnerable, suffer in such cases, and they need long-term care and counsel.

"Young children are hurt by these most terrible crimes, and by all those who watch such acts.

"That one of these criminal spectators was a priest, commissioned to share the love of God to all people, is shameful to him and hurtful to the whole Christian community."

The Rev Battersby was rector in Darwen from 1992 to 1994.

The Rev Fleur Green is the current vicar at St Mark's Church, Buncer Lane.

The Rev Green said: "The community has been left shocked. We fully support what the Bishop has said."