Archbishop lined up to replace Welby faces calls to quit over handling of sex abuse case

THE Archbishop of York yesterday said he was "deeply sorry" over his handling of a sex abuse case that prompted calls for his resignation.

- Stephen Beech

Stephen Cottrell earmarked to take over from the Archbishop of Canterbury following his resignation over a separate scandal - is accused of letting a priest barred from working with children stay in the Church.

It has led to Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle who called on Justin Welby to quit, to claim it is also "impossible" for Mr Cottrell to lead the Church of England or remain an Archbishop. He is due to take on some of Mr Welby's official duties temporarily from January 6. And on Christmas Day his sermon is expected to be the Church's focus.

Trials

A BBC investigation found that when Mr Cottrell was Bishop of Chelmsford he let paedophile priest David Tudor remain in the Church despite knowing of accusations. These included two trials in 1988.

In the first, Tudor was acquitted of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl, although he admitted having sex with her when she was 16.

In the second, he was found guilty of indecently assaulting three girls and jailed for six months.