Revd Andrew Deuchar

The Revd Andrew Deuchar, a 70-year-old former high-ranking Church of England official from Chirnside, Berwickshire, has been sentenced for a serious sexual offence involving the distribution of indecent material to a minor. On Monday, he appeared in court and pleaded guilty to sending indecent images of himself and a video of a sexual nature to an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy named 'Jason' in Ireland.

In reality, 'Jason' was an adult member of an online paedophile-hunter group, highlighting the role such vigilante organisations play in exposing potential predators. Deuchar, who previously served as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs and as a chaplain to the Queen, received a sentence of two years of community service with supervision. He will also be placed on the sex-offenders register for a similar period.

Deuchar's background in the Church includes roles as a parish priest in Nottingham. However, his career was marred by an earlier incident in 2008, when he admitted to inappropriate behaviour towards a woman, leading him to resign from his posts. This recent conviction underscores ongoing issues within religious institutions regarding accountability for sexual misconduct.

The case was reported in the Church Times on 7 November 2025, drawing attention to the implications for former clergy members. No further details on the exact court location or prosecuting authority were specified, but the offence involved cross-border elements with Ireland.