A diocese of Chichester priest has appeared before the Worthing Magistrates Court to answer charges that he possessed 22,500 indecent images of children.
The Sussex police report the Rev. David Renshaw (61), the priest in charge of Christ Church Worthing pled not guilty on 7 September 2021, and was bound over for an initial hearing at the Lewes Crown Court on 5 October 2021. He has been released on court bail pending the hearing.
Renshaw was inducted as incumbent of Christ Church Worthing on 22 December 2019, but the parish website reports Renshaw was placed on long term sick leave in early 2020. A statement from the Sussex police said none of the images were believed to be of local children.
“All necessary safeguarding enquiries have been carried out and there is no risk to any identifiable children. None of the images are believed to be of local children.
“The charges, authorised by the CPS, follow an intelligence-led investigation by the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).
“Officers have had full co-operation from the Diocese of Chichester throughout the investigation” the Sussex police said.
