The Bishop of Chelmsford said lessons “need to be learnt” after a vicar was struck off over sexual abuse allegations.

David Tudor, who was a team rector for Canvey Parish in Essex, has been suspended for the past five years but was banned for life from the Church of England at a tribunal hearing this week.

The panel heard he had sex with two girls – including one under 16 – between 1982 and 1989.

Reverend Dr. Guli Francis-Deqhani welcomed the decision to “ban them from working for life”.

“I am deeply sorry for the deep hurt and harm that David Tudor’s behavior has caused,” said Dr. Francis-Deqhani.

“There will be important lessons to be learned about how this matter has been dealt with over many years and I welcome the fact that there will now be an independent national review of safeguarding practice.”

The the court decided that Mr Tudor’s conduct – which took place when he was a priest in the Diocese of Southwark – was “a breach of trust” which amounted to “grooming”.

Mr Tudor told the tribunal two days ago that he had no recollection of the incidents with the two girls – who have been identified as X and Y – but accepted that sexual acts had taken place between him and Y and did not dispute X’s account of what it happened

The court heard how the former vicar tried to keep the relationship with X – which began when he was 15 – a secret by asking to destroy his diaries.

He offered full apologies to both X and Y.

Surrey Police said they investigated a report in 2019 of “non-recent indecent assault” against a 60-year-old man from Canvey Island – which was believed to have taken place in Reigate – but the Crown Prosecution Service determined that there was insufficient evidence to be taken. the matter in court.

“As with all closed cases, if any new or compelling evidence is brought to our attention, we will consider reopening the investigation,” a force spokesman added.

Mr Tudor was also charged but acquitted of indecent assault on a 16-year-old girl – identified as Z – in January 1988, the court heard.

He was sentenced to six months in prison in 1988 for indecent assault in relation to three other applicants, but this conviction was later overturned by the Court of Appeal.

After serving a five-year suspension, he returned to the ministry in the 1990s and was appointed vicar of Canvey Island in 1997 and rector of the team in 2000.

Mr Tudor was later suspended in 2005 by the Diocese of Chelmsford after a complaint was made about his conduct relating to a period before his ordination in the 1970s, which did not involve either X or Y.

The tribunal heard there were no criminal proceedings and he was allowed to return to his position on Canvey Island.

The Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, said this Mr Tudor’s conduct was “a serious and damaging breach of his pastoral and professional obligations as a priest”.

Tudor’s victims have been given full support, Reverend Chessun added, saying he was “deeply grateful” for their courage to share their experiences and engage “in this long and difficult process”.