ONE of Victor Whitsey’s victims has called for a public inquiry into the historic sex abuse claims involving both adults and children.

The man, who released a statement through Slater Gordon solicitors, who are representing four alleged victims, said: “When I met Victor Whitsey I was young, innocent, and naïve.

“I longed for his blessing to achieve my wish of a future as a vicar, serving God and the community.

“He told me he agreed I had a calling from God. He also told me he had the power to give me everything I wanted in life and the power to take it all away. He then proceeded to abuse me sexually and psychologically. I was powerless to stop him.

“I blamed myself, thought I was the only victim and rationalised that it was my fault. If he was acting with God’s will, I should have enjoyed and welcomed what he did but I didn’t.

“If he was acting against God’s will, I should have rejected and reported him but I didn’t. Whichever way I rationalised it, I was a failure and not worthy of God’s love.

“I told no-one, who would believe a teenage boy’s word against a Bishop?”

He also claimed he became reclusive and turned his back on the church.

The statement said: “Twenty years after my abuse, I suffered a complete mental nervous breakdown which included attempted suicide. Because of the sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of Victor Whitsey I lost my faith, my chosen life as a vicar, my self-belief, my freedom from worry and my dignity.

“Child sex abuse is a crime which stays with you for a lifetime. As a child you don’t understand why or what is happening, but as you grow older you realise the enormity of the abuse and it hurts you all over again, you blame yourself for allowing it, you hate yourself for being weak.

“Not a day has gone by that I have not thought about what happened to me.

“I hope that there will be a public inquiry to understand not only what Whitsey did to his victims but to also learn who knew what he was doing, to what extent his actions were intentionally covered up, and who else was complicit in the crimes.”

Richard Scorer, from Slater and Gordon, said: “The abhorrent and disgusting abuse perpetrated by Bishop Whitsey destroyed many lives, driving some to attempt suicide.

“What is equally abhorrent is that the Church of England knew of his abuse, did nothing to stop it and covered it up

“ It is crucial that there is now an independent review.”