AN MP last night demanded answers how a pastor was able to continue working and sexually molesting women for almost 20 years after being found guilty of “systematic abuse” by an internal church investigation.

John Wilson was suspended and stripped of his accreditation by the Association of God (AoG) - an arm of the Pentecostal movement - after he was unanimously found guilty of molesting congregation members by its disciplinary panel in the early 1990s.

Despite that, he continued working as a minister and sexually abusing female worshippers up until 2010.

Wilson, now 70, who preached at the Liberty Pentecostal Church in Keighley, was jailed for 21 years at Bradford Crown Court last week for sexually abusing women between 1984 to 2010, following a West Yorkshire Police investigation which only began in July 2014.

But the question remained unanswered last night whether the AoG passed on the results of its internal investigation at the time to other authorities, including the police.

The Telegraph & Argus was unable to get a response to that point from the AoG yesterday.

In a statement issued earlier this week, AoG said that it had co-operated fully with the police investigation which started in 2014.

But Keighley MP John Grogan called on it to reveal full details of what steps it had taken directly after its 1990s investigation.

Mr Grogan said: “I would hope the Assemblies of God will make further statements as people have suffered years of abuse.

“This is a sickening case and John Wilson is where he belongs, behind bars probably for the rest of his life.

“This shows the absolute importance of safeguarding and the necessity to report offenders to the police immediately.”

He added that it was “completely unacceptable” that Wilson was able to continue to work as a pastor.

In its statement, the AoG said it condemned all forms of abuse and took safeguarding “very seriously”, and it voiced its “deepest sympathy” to all those affected by the case.

“We believe everyone has a right to protection,” said a spokesman.

“In the early 1990s, we were made aware of an allegation the pastor was systematically abusing members of the congregation during a particular method of spiritual deliverance ministry.

“As he was accorded AoG status at the time, the matter was referred to senior leadership, which initiated an investigation into the details of the complaint.

“The minister was immediately suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and a disciplinary hearing.

“The disciplinary panel unanimously found the minister guilty of the allegation made and he had his accreditation immediately terminated.

“AoG has fully co-operated and worked with the police throughout a recent, lengthy investigation, which resulted in successful convictions.”

The spokesman added: “AoG Incorporated would like to clarify that Liberty Pentecostal Church has never been a church affiliated or in any way connected with AoG.”

Shocked leaders of an organisation representing churches across Keighley said they are “deeply sorry” for the trauma caused by Wilson.

Keighley Churches Together (KCT) said its heartfelt sympathies went out to all those affected.

“Such gross abuse of trust by a Christian minister leaves all of us angry, confused and betrayed. It is deeply wrong and sinful,” it said.

“Churches – like all organisations – need clear and robust safeguarding procedures. Churches Together in Keighley all have these.

“We have a responsibility to protect all in our care and to name abuse when we see it.

The Liberty Pentecostal Church in Keighley declined to comment.

Wilson’s wife, Mary, 79, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting indecent assault, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment, suspended for two years when she appeared alongside her husband in court.

Church minister, Laurence Peterson, 59, who was also convicted of three charges of conspiracy to commit indecent assault, awaits sentence.