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13:13 EDT, 20 May 2021
John Anthony Clohosey, 72, claims he had consensual sexual relations with the alleged victim but did not have full intercourse
A Roman Catholic priest accused of raping a woman 35 years ago was told may God forgive you, you are a liar and a rapist by the woman in court.
Retired John Anthony Clohosey, 72, who presided over churches across North East England, denies rape but said he did ask the alleged victim for sex when he visited her home in 1986.
The North Yorkshire man, from Filey, told detectives they kissed and cuddled in her bedroom but did not have intercourse because he was unable to perform.
Our Lady Immaculate and Saint Cuthbert R C Church. Picture: GOOGLE A WOMAN has accused a County Durham Roman Catholic priest of rape after her pleas for financial help from his diocese were turned down. Retired John Anthony Clohosey, 72, was suspended from his duties at Lady Immaculate and St Cuthbert s RC Church, in Crook, in 2019. At the time, diocesan safeguarding coordinator, Angie Richardson, said: The safeguarding department of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is currently cooperating with Northumbria Police to assist with their investigation. It is standard practice for the Bishop to support parishioners in these circumstances. Clohosey denies the offence – said to have happened in 1986 at a different church – but told police he did ask her for sex and that they had kissed and cuddled.