8:20am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Neil Hunter
A VICAR accused of sexually abusing a schoolgirl has told a jury that there is no truth in the claims.
The Reverend Malcolm Jackson said he was amazed when he was arrested and learnt of the teenager’s allegations late last year.
Giving evidence yesterday, the east Cleveland clergyman said he had never behaved inappropriately.
Rev Jackson is accused of rape, attempted rape, sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The 52-year-old father-offour, of Mersey Road, Redcar, denies the charges and is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.
He told the jury that the allegations and the ill-health of his wife – from whom he is now separated – have taken their toll.
“I have been under a lot of stress for the last few years,”
he told his barrister, Adrian Dent, yesterday.
In an interview with police, Rev Jackson denied all the schoolgirl’s allegations.
When asked about trying to rape her in a church hall office, he said: “I’m shaking my head.
I’m stunned. She is lying.”
It was also put to him that the girl claimed she was forced to carry out sex acts, and he replied: “Lies, absolute lies.”
Rev Jackson said at the end of the interview: “I am amazed at the number of allegations she has made against me, to be honest.”
The girl claims he tried to rape her in a church hall office and said she would not get pregnant because he had had “the snip”.
She said Rev Jackson kept the lights off, locked the main door and shut the office door before the attack.
Yesterday, he said he had a vasectomy after the birth of his fourth child, but insisted he would never have used the term “the snip”.
Former shipyard worker Rev Jackson was serving as a curate at St Nicholas Church, in Guisborough, at the time of the allegations.
He told the jury that he was appointed as vicar of Kirkleatham in 2008.
Further allegations that he hugged the girl inappropriately and asked to look at her underwear were also dismissed by the clergyman.
The case continues.
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