AN INQUEST is due to open on Wednesday into the death of a former Bradford vicar who failed to turn up at court on alleged historic sexual offences.

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

The Telegraph & Argus understands the 70-year-old was found when Thames Valley police was called at 4.05pm to his home after a fear for welfare concern. A warrant had been issued for his arrest from Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court after his non-appearance on Tuesday.

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.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said once a copy of the death certificate was received it would formally cease proceedings against him.