LGBT+ church leader arrested after Metro investigation into ‘sexual abuse’

Queer Christians have accused a erstwhile person of a British LGBTQ+ religion of intersexual maltreatment and religion bosses of ‘covering it up’.

The alleged victims assertion they were touched, groped and harassed by the aforesaid idiosyncratic astatine Sunday services successful the UK and societal functions implicit a 13-month period.

Metro understands determination are astatine slightest 18 alleged victims – 8 who person complained to the religion pastor – and 3 witnesses.

‘The halfway person would travel up down maine and drawback my limb and chest,’ said 1 victim. ‘They would compression and pinch my broadside down to my buttocks and thighs.’

‘I cognize [the individual] does it to each members truthful I conscionable accepted it,’ different recalled.

Have you been impacted by this scandal? Send america an email astatine josh.milton@metro.co.ukComment Now

One unfortunate complained to the church’s pastor astir the erstwhile religion person successful December 2022. The pastor said the accused was ‘just a hugger’ doing an ‘older feline things’, according to an email and WhatsApp connection seen by Metro.

‘I would accidental this was inappropriate arsenic a idiosyncratic assigned arsenic safeguarding lead,’ 1 alleged unfortunate told Metro. ‘Had the behaviour been challenged and stopped, it wouldn’t person escalated.’

Further allegations were made astir the idiosyncratic implicit the adjacent year. But the LGBTQ+ religion lone told the territory church, which oversees the moving of the LGBTQ+ church, astir the allegations successful January 2024.

During the inquiry, a territory researcher and co-founder of the LGBTQ+ church, said aboriginal that period they were ‘satisfied’ with the accused individual’s effect and would not beryllium removed.

‘[The church] has ever had a civilization of “hugging” amongst immoderate people,’ the researcher told alleged victims successful an email. ‘Many radical hug maine personally successful the assemblage without asking… I’ve besides seen radical buss 1 different connected the neck, which is simply a mean signifier successful immoderate cultures.’

This amounted to saying, ‘You cognize the gays, they’re touchy touchy,’ an alleged unfortunate said.

A typical of the victims said this was ‘gaslighting’. ‘Church representatives removed the 1 instrumentality that we tin springiness susceptible radical – the quality to place the information that they are experiencing abuse,’ they told Metro.

After alleged victims threatened to spell to the press, the pastor removed the person connected January 31.

During a work successful April 2024, a territory reverend told followers their probe was ‘completed’.

An audio signaling heard by Metro showed an alleged unfortunate replying: ‘Your process hasn’t consulted maine and I was sexually assaulted successful this country against that wall.’

‘They sexually assaulted me, they touched my ass and they grabbed it. They
touched maine and the probe has ne'er spoken to maine contempt maine reaching retired to them for 3 months,’ they added.

The reverend asked them to permission or: ‘I americium going to person to telephone the police’.

‘You are going to telephone the constabulary connected america due to the fact that idiosyncratic sexually assaulted and
harassed america connected your watch?’ the alleged unfortunate replied.

Another added: ‘Oh, yes, delight telephone the police. I would emotion to speech to them astir the intersexual assaults and harassment that has been taking place.

‘We person got evidence. We person got emails and WhatsApps showing you that the
[the church] halfway enactment person covered it up. The religion has not been taking it earnestly for the past 10 months.’

Alleged victims were escorted retired and successful the the pursuing weeks chopped disconnected from religion communications.

Following the protestation from the members, the probe was re-opened but closed the pursuing period successful May 2024 aft the religion said it recovered ‘multiple further allegations could not beryllium corroborated’ oregon ‘were recovered to beryllium inaccurate and truthful dismissed.’

Victims assertion that during the 2nd inquiry, they were besides not spoken to by investigators. The religion did not code this assertion erstwhile Metro approached for comment.

Ahead of a gathering successful July to sermon the findings, a territory typical told the alleged victims they would ‘be politely refused entry.’

Yet 1 invited a councillor to be arsenic an autarkic observer.

‘The investigators introduced themselves by contrasting groping to erstwhile they had investigated rape with the police,’ the councillor told Metro.

‘It diminished the severity of what was alleged arsenic if it wasn’t worthy looking into due to the fact that immoderate would accidental it isn’t arsenic atrocious arsenic different intersexual crimes.

‘My bosom breaks for each these victims being failed.’

The church’s website says it’s ‘currently connected a intermission from gathering’. The accused idiosyncratic is nary longer listed arsenic a squad member.

A connection from the constabulary said: ‘Officers investigating a fig of reports of intersexual assaults person made an arrest.

‘As portion of our ongoing enquiries, a 49-year-old antheral was arrested this play connected suspicion of intersexual assault.

‘He has since been bailed portion our enquiries continue.’

Metro approached the territory religion and territory researcher for comment.

Get successful interaction with our quality squad by emailing america astatine webnews@metro.co.uk.

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