Archbishop George Carey’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs has been given a non-custodial sentence after admitting to sending indecent images with someone whom he believed was a 14 year old boy.
Andrew Deuchar (70), of Chirnside, Scotland pled guilty to having taken indecent pictures and a video of himself and then sending them to someone whom he believed was an underage boy named Jason who lived in Ireland. However, “Jason” was an adult who belonged to an online paedophile hunter group.
The Jedburgh’s Sherriff’s Court heard that in May 2025, members of the group confronted Deuchar, who told the paedophile hunters he admitted he had made a mistake. The matter was reported to Police Scotland, who when they interviewed Deuchar admitted his guilt, stating in his defense, however, “The boy had taken the lead and had been the instigator of some things”, BBC Scotland reported.
On 3 Nov 2025 the court sentenced Deuchar to a two year community payback order (CPO). A CPO is a type of community-based sentence, mainly used in Scotland, where the court imposes requirements aimed at both punishment and rehabilitation for an offender instead of sending them to prison. A CPO can include mandatory unpaid work (community payback), supervision by police or social workers, compensation for victims, residence requirements, conduct requirements, restricted movement, and treatment arrangements for mental health, drug, or alcohol issues.
Deuchar served with the Foreign Office before he trained for ordination with the Church of England. After serving in parish ministry, Deuchar moved to Lambeth Palace where he served as George Carey’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs from 1994 to 2000. From 2000 to 2008 Deuchar served as vicar of Nottingham All Saints, St Mary and St Peter Church where he remained involved with international Anglican affairs, serving as one of the hosts for the 2005 meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council which was held at the University of Nottingham, and at St Mary’s Nottingham.
In recognition of his service he was appointed an honorary chaplain to the Queen in 2004. However, in 2008 Deuchar resigned his post and was removed from the ordained ministry after admitting to having sexually harassed a female parishioner. He moved north to Scotland following his dismissal and found a position as Director of the Berwick Literary Festival. Following his arrest, he was dismissed from his post with the Festival.