TYNE AND WEAR (ENGLAND)
ITV Tyne Tees
July 11, 2019
A former senior clergyman has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after being found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting a young man in the 1970s.
Granville Gibson, who is now 83, was previously Archdeacon of Auckland, a deputy to the Bishop of Durham.
Gibson was found to have deliberately touched a teenager in a sexual manner when he was a vicar in Newton Aycliffe around 40 years ago.
It happened inside the vicarage where Gibson lived, next to St Clare’s Church.
Steve Ebdon, who was 17 or 18 when Gibson assaulted him, has waved his right to anonymity.
He told ITV Tyne Tees he was “dissapoiinted” by the 10 month sentence, calling Gibson “an animal.”
In a statement, the Right Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham said:
It is a matter of deep shame and regret that a former priest in the Church of England Granville Gibson has today been found guilty and received a custodial sentence of 10 months for two further counts of indecent assault against a male person. There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place; abuse is a terrible crime and a grievous breach of trust, which has lifelong effects.
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