Ifor Whittaker

An East Sussex former vicar, Ifor Whittaker, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for historic child sex offences committed at the church where he worked. The 80-year-old appeared at Hove Crown Court after pleading guilty to rape and gross indecency with a boy under 14 years of age. The offences took place in the late 1990s at St John the Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, where Whittaker was known as Father Colin Pritchard.

Whittaker, who abused his position of trust as a vicar, carried out the sexual abuse against a young boy whom he had christened as a baby. The victim, now in his thirties, reported the abuse to police in February 2022. At that time, Whittaker was already serving a 15-year sentence for other non-recent sexual offences against a child, also linked to his role as a vicar. This prior conviction underscores a pattern of predatory behaviour exploiting his religious authority.

The sentencing occurred at Hove Crown Court, with Whittaker receiving a life term and a minimum of eight years before parole eligibility. Detective Constable Nicky Beard of Sussex Police described Whittaker as 'a predator who used his position of trust in the community to rape and sexually abuse young children.' She highlighted the profound betrayal, noting that 'Whittaker christened the victim in this investigation as a baby; he had earned the trust of his family – but he went on to abuse him in the most appalling way.' Beard praised the victim's 'incredible strength and courage' in coming forward, stating that the effects of the abuse have lasted a lifetime but that reporting it ensured justice.

This case, reported by Greatest Hits Radio Sussex, emphasises the long-term impact of child sex offences and the importance of victims reporting historic abuse. The offences relate specifically to Whittaker's actions in the late 1990s, demonstrating how such crimes can remain hidden for decades before surfacing through survivor testimonies.