Former Gillingham vicar Rev Richard Lee charged with voyeurism and making indecent images
A former Gillingham vicar has been charged with voyeurism
and making indecent images.
The Reverend Richard Lee, who used
to officiate at All Saints’ Church in Hempstead, was arrested in
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on suspicion of the offences, in July
last year.
He moved from Gillingham about five
years ago to lead the congregations at St Augustine’s Church in
Locking and St Mary’s Church in Hutton, near Weston, and police in
the area this week revealed he had been charged with several
offences.
Police in Avon and Somerset
confirmed a 49-year-old man had been charged with eight voyeurism
offences and 18 offences of making indecent images.
Mr Lee, who was suspended from his post when he was originally
arrested, worked as a Church of England vicar in Somerset after
moving from Hempstead in 2007.
When it was revealed he had been
arrested, a spokesman for the Diocese of Bath and Wells confirm Mr
Lee had been arrested and suspended.
Mr Lee, moved to North Somerset
alongside his wife the Rev Anne Lee, who also works at the two
churches in Somerset.
They met and married while studying
to be vicars at college in Nottingham before working at different
churches in North London and taking up posts at the same church in
Hempstead, where they stayed for nine years.
The couple have two children.
When he was at All Saints’ he went
for the David Beckham look to raise money for the Friends of
Chernobyl’s children charity.
He had his head shaved in a
Beckham-style skinhead and wore a stud earring during a service at
the church.
Mr Lee had promised to shave his
locks in front of his flock if he raised at least £700 in
sponsorship money, but local support saw the total soar to more
than £1,370.
He is due to appear at North
Somerset Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 11.
18/01/13
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