A VICAR on trial accused of sexually abusing a boy when he was a Bradford head teacher is respected and admired by parishioners at the 12 churches in his ministry, a jury has heard.

David Fletcher was seen in a positive light by his flock and had been sickened by the allegations made against him, The Venerable Andy Broom, Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire, told Bradford Crown Court.

Fletcher, 63, denies seven allegations of indecent assault, relating to a boy aged between nine and 15, and a charge of sexually assaulting the same complainant on a single occasion when he was an adult.

Now a vicar in the Driffield area of East Yorkshire, he was deputy head at St Oswald’s Church of England Primary School in Little Horton and headmaster at St Barnabas School in Heaton before he was ordained in 2001.

The Ven Broom told the jury yesterday that Fletcher disclosed to him at a private meeting in November, 2014 that the complainant had made allegations against him on Facebook.

Fletcher said the man had been in touch with his wife after attending counselling sessions.

The following month, Fletcher had to “step back” from ministry activity involving children because the police were now involved. He had not worked at all after he was charged with the offences, the court was told.

The Ven Broom said Fletcher was distressed and sickened by the allegations and made it very clear that they were denied.

Cross-examined by defence barrister, Rodney Ferm, The Ven Broom said of Fletcher: “He is very highly regarded by his parishioners. He was someone I only heard of in a positive light.

“The admiration and respect for him is very clear.”

Fletcher, who has been married to his wife Pat for 40 years, told the police the allegations were completely untrue and “absolutely devastating”.

Giving evidence in court, he said the boy had visited his home only occasionally and he never touched him inappropriately or kissed him on the lips.

He had no knowledge that the boy was allegedly being sexually abused by a former vicar at St Oswald’s Church, Graham Doyle, but the complainant had told him he locked his door when staying at the vicarage because he was afraid.

Fletcher said his sister-in-law, Mary, had stirred up trouble against him, accusing him at one point of having an affair with his female school secretary.

The jury has heard that Graham Doyle is not being prosecuted and is “beyond our shores”.

The police believe he is living in Southern Ireland and have made no attempt to get him back to the UK.

The complainant, now a married man, told the police he looked on Fletcher as a father figure when he was growing up because his own father was not around.

He accused Fletcher, of Pulham Lane, Wetwang, Driffield, of “snogging him,” putting his hands up his shirt and touching him indecently.

He said that years later, Fletcher “came on to” him once more when he was an adult, trying to kiss and touch him.

The man went to the police in 2014 with accusations against Fletcher and Doyle.

The case continues.