Eastbourne's Robert Coles Bailed in Sex Abuse Inquiry

BBC News
March 7, 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-17284399

Canon Gordon Rideout and Father Robert Coles were arrested separately at their homes

A retired Church of England priest arrested in the Eastbourne area on suspicion of sexually abusing children has been bailed.

Former parish priest Robert Coles, 70, is suspected of sexually assaulting three young men in West Sussex in the late 1970s and mid-1980s.

Sussex Police said Canon Gordon Rideout remains in custody.

The 73-year-old is suspected of sexually assaulting nine young people between 1965 and 1972.

Robert Coles has been freed on bail until 17 April, police said.

The arrests follow an investigation over the past six months by a team of specialist child protection detectives from Sussex Police.

Detectives say they are not linking the cases at this stage.

Canon Rideout and Robert Coles were arrested separately on Tuesday at their homes near Eastbourne.

Canon Rideout conducted services at All Saints Church, Eastbourne until 2010.

In the 1960s he was a chaplain at two Barnado's homes in London.

He was also chaplain at Moira House Girls School in Eastbourne until 2003 and chair of governors at St Mary's special school in Bexhill and Bishop Bell school in Eastbourne.