Bishop of Liverpool denies sex assault allegations

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 one woman twice and harassing another, 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.

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.

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 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.

"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 take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area".

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".

"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 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."

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.

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