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| Bishop of Liverpool denies sex assault allegations | Bishop of Liverpool denies sex assault allegations |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath was announced in the position in 2022 | |
| The Bishop of Liverpool has denied allegations of sexual assault outlined in a Channel 4 News investigation. | The Bishop of Liverpool has denied allegations of sexual assault outlined in a Channel 4 News investigation. |
| The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath has been accused of assaulting two women, the programme said. | |
| It said one woman was allegedly assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford in Essex, where he was Bishop of Bradwell, on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. A female bishop also told Channel 4 News she was sexually harassed by him. | It said one woman was allegedly assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford in Essex, where he was Bishop of Bradwell, on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. A female bishop also told Channel 4 News she was sexually harassed by him. |
| In a statement, Bishop Perumbalath said he had "consistently denied" the allegations, adding police had investigated them but taken no further action. | |
| Channel 4 News said Bishop Perumbalath, who was enthroned Bishop of Liverpool in 2023, was interviewed voluntarily under caution by police in March last year. | |
| Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and fifth largest in the world | Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and fifth largest in the world |
| Bishop Perumbalath said: "The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present. | |
| "I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. | "I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. |
| "I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. | "I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. |
| "The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further action. | "The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further action. |
| "Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others. | "Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others. |
| "I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. | "I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. |
| "I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area". | "I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area". |
| 'Learning outcome' | 'Learning outcome' |
| The Church of England said it had also investigated the complaints, with a complaint of alleged misconduct first made in early in 2023. | The Church of England said it had also investigated the complaints, with a complaint of alleged misconduct first made in early in 2023. |
| A spokesperson said the investigation "concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged". | A spokesperson said the investigation "concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged". |
| "The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action." | "The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action." |
| The statement continued: "Shortly after the start of this process a further disclosure was made by another woman. | The statement continued: "Shortly after the start of this process a further disclosure was made by another woman. |
| "The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct. | "The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct. |
| "Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing." | "Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing." |
| Originally from Kerala in South India, Bishop Perumbalath was ordained into the Church of North India in 1994. | |
| He moved to the UK in 2001, first taking up positions in the Diocese of Rochester. | He moved to the UK in 2001, first taking up positions in the Diocese of Rochester. |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Tell us which stories we should cover on Merseyside | Tell us which stories we should cover on Merseyside |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X,, external and Instagram, external. | Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X,, external and Instagram, external. |