Saturday, July 15, 2006

Vicar told to quit over kiss on cheek

A vicar has had to stand down as a school governor after innocently kissing a primary school pupil on the cheek to congratulate her - only to find himself accused of common assault.

The Rev Alan Barrett, the vicar of St Editha's church in Tamworth, Staffs, and a father of three, kissed the 10-year-old girl in front of fellow pupils and a maths teacher when he presented her with a certificate at the end of the class.

The girl's mother complained but investigations by the police, social services and the Church all cleared Mr Barrett of doing anything wrong.

However, he said the subsequent furore left him with little choice but to resign as chairman of the governors on the advice of the Archdeacon of Lichfield.

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