🚨 VICAR WHO ABUSED A THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRL JAILED FOR NINE YEARS Gordon Newton, 40, a former Church of England clergyman who worked in Batley, West Yorkshire, has been jailed for nine years and seven months after admitting 12 offences, including six counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13. His crimes came to light when his wife handed an old mobile phone to police. Officers found 276 indecent images of children, including 70 in the most serious category. His browsing history also revealed a search suggesting an interest in images involving children younger than three. Leeds Crown Court heard Newton had confessed to a sexual interest in children over a period of years. His offending devastated his wife, leaving her suffering depression and shattering her religious faith. Judge Tom Bayliss condemned Newton’s “extremely wicked series of acts”, telling him: “You held yourself out as a man of God but you're nothing. You're a hypocrite.” The judge said Newton had betrayed the child, his wife, parishioners and church authorities. Newton, of Huddersfield, was placed on the sex offenders register for life and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Source UK Database.