A senior bishop within the Church of England, John Perumbalath, who is currently serving as the Bishop of Liverpool, has been accused of groping and sexually harassing two women.
The allegations span several years, with incidents reportedly taking place from 2019 to 2023.
Perumbalath, who previously held a position in Essex, is accused of sexually assaulting one of the women multiple times during his tenure there.
According to the woman, the first incident occurred in March 2019 at a church away day, where Perumbalath allegedly kissed her forcefully and held her in a manner that made her feel trapped.
She later described feeling uncomfortable with his actions, which included inappropriate touching in subsequent encounters.
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The woman reported the alleged incidents to the police in 2023. However, the police closed their investigation due to insufficient evidence and no charges were filed.
Despite this, the woman also raised concerns with Church leaders, including the interim head of the Church, Stephen Cottrell.
Allegations have now come to light that Cottrell was aware of the accusations before Perumbalath was appointed to the Bishop of Liverpool role.
In a statement, Perumbalath has denied the allegations, saying that while the encounters took place in public settings, he did not intend to cause harm.
He claims that he cooperated fully with the investigation and emphasized his commitment to safeguarding and leadership within the Church.
A second woman, a fellow bishop, has also accused Perumbalath of sexual harassment. However, her complaint was dismissed by a judge due to the timing of the allegation.
