Former Vicar Ifor Whittaker Jailed for Life

Ifor Whittaker, an 80-year-old former Anglican vicar, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and gross indecency of a six-year-old boy in the vestry of St John the Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, East Sussex. The offences occurred in the late 1990s, and Whittaker, who previously served under the name Colin Pritchard, admitted these crimes in court. Judge Gary Lucie characterized him as a 'predatory paedophile' and noted serious concerns about his continued danger to children, emphasizing the seriousness of his long history of sexual abuse against multiple victims. Whittaker is already serving a 16-year sentence for prior offenses and has now received a minimum term of eight years before being eligible for parole. The Diocese of Chichester has expressed remorse and acknowledged the courage of the victims in coming forward. Whittaker's repeated abuse highlights a significant betrayal of trust within the community.