A MAN who claims he was repeatedly raped by a Bradford vicar has blasted the Church of England for caring more about its own “self-preservation” than caring for the abused and dealing with abusers.

The man, known as Michael, spoke out after his alleged abuser was found dead by police just hours after he failed to turn up at court to face historic sex abuse charges on Tuesday.

The body of 70-year-old Trevor Devamanikkam, who served at St Aidan’s Parish Church in Buttershaw around three decades ago, was discovered at his retirement home at Otters Court, Priory Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now confirmed it will be stopping proceedings against him.

In a statement Michael slammed the Church’s ‘appalling’ handling of his case, accusing it of telling lies, ignoring and discrediting sexual abuse victims and being immoral.

He said: “Trevor Devamanikkam was due to appear in court to answer the charges brought against him. He failed to appear and has subsequently been found deceased. This is a very difficult time.”

And he added: “Naturally, I just wanted Mr Devamanikkam to be accountable and thereby give me some peace.

“Regarding The Church of England, I have nothing but criticism. Their handling of the allegations of sexual abuse has been quite simply appalling, as it has been and continues to be for so many victims of sexual abuse.”

He claimed he “disclosed” his account to Bishop Peter Burrows of Doncaster, Bishop Steven Croft (then of Sheffield, now of Oxford), Bishop Martyn Snow (then Archdeacon of Rotherham and Sheffield, now Bishop of Leicester), Bishop Glyn Webster of Beverley and Archbishop John Sentamu of York.

He added: “In my opinion, none of them followed safeguarding rules/guidelines, none of them gave me any care whatsoever and failed to act upon my disclosure five years ago in 2012.

“The Church of England has put every obstacle possible in the way of helping me or actually dealing with the abuse. Even now the bishops refuse to answer any questions why they did not act on my disclosure and the church is protecting them. The Church of England even went so far as to enthrone two of them (Croft and Snow) as diocesan bishops whilst there was a safeguarding complaint lodged against them. Archbishop Welby has been of no valuable support either.

“The Church of England’s attitude to the sexual abuse of the young and vulnerable is still appalling. If they put as much energy into caring for the abused and dealing with abusers as they do for their own self-preservation they would do very well indeed in the fight against sexual abuse. The ignoring of victims of sexual abuse is still very much commonplace. It is also immoral.

“My thoughts are with Mr Devamanikkam’s family at this time.

In response to his statement, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Hancock, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop said: “We have been alerted by police that Trevor Devamanikkam has been found dead at his home. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this sad news and we have offered Michael pastoral care and support.”

Officers from Thames Valley police found Mr Devamanikkam after concerns were raised for his welfare at 4.05pm on Tuesday - a warrant for his arrest had been issued earlier that day when he did not show up at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court.

A Thames Valley police spokesman said: “At this stage the death is not believed to be suspicious. A file is being prepared for the coroner.”

Devamanikkam was installed at St Aidan’s church in March 1984, and the alleged sexual offences took place over an 13-month period in the 1980s.

He had been charged with three counts of indecent assault on a man aged 16 or over, and three counts of buggery with a male aged between 16 and 21 without consent.

The offences were being brought under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, and when the offences are alleged to have taken place, while homosexuality was legal, the age of consent was 21-years-old.

The charges were brought after police confirmed they were investigating an historical rape claim against a vicar in July 2016.

A CPS spokesperson said: “We were informed today that this defendant has committed suicide. We have requested a copy of the death certificate and when this has been received we will formally cease proceedings against him.”