East Sussex vicar charged with rape of a boy under 14

Ifor Whittaker, 80, was a vicar going by the name of Father Colin Pritchard at St John The Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, near Hastings, at the time of the alleged offences.

The offences are reported to have taken place during the late 1990s when the victim – now a man in his 30s – was a young child.

Whittaker has been remanded in custody, to appear at a court to be confirmed on June 10.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact us online or via 101, quoting 47220036660.”