Vicar and his mistress who sexually abused an underage girl are jailed for 4 years

A married Church of England vicar and his mistress were jailed today for sexually abusing a young girl. 

Rev Stephen Clapham, 61, had been secretly dating 52-year-old cleaner Sally Shaw behind her husband’s back after she told the vicar about her marital woes in between church services. 

During the fling, the pair accosted a young girl and told her to strip off and watch them have sex.

After the girl informed her teacher of the incident, the pair were arrested.

At Chester Crown Court, Clapham who was vicar of All Saints’ Church, in the village of Church Lawton near Alsager, Cheshire, and Shaw admitted engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child under 13 and making an indecent photograph of a child.

The pair will also now both have to sign onto the Sex Offender Register for life. 

Pictured is Stephen Clapham. In sentencing the pair for their actions, Judge Steven Everett said to Clapham: ‘You are a disgusting individual’

Clapham, who had been married for 38 years, also admitted to the assault of a girl under the age of 13 by touching 

During police interviews, Shaw made full admissions to the offences, and was said to have described their offending ‘in detail’

Clapham, who had been married for 38 years, also admitted to the assault of a girl under the age of 13 by touching. Shaw also admitted to distributing an indecent photograph. 

The Church of England vicar was suspended by the Bishop of Chester after the scandal came to light. But he has also since resigned and has relinquished his roles as Rural Dean of Congleton and Diocesan Ecumenical Officer in the Diocese of Chester.

The court heard how the victim is now 16 and is recovering from her ordeal. 

Prosecuting, Nicholas Williams said: ‘The defendants began an affair in 2016 when Rev Clapham was the vicar at All Saint. They had begun seeing each other in confidential settings to discuss her failing marriage and this developed into an intimate and long-lasting affair.

‘On the day of the offence the girl had been asked to undress in front of the defendants, She was then told to sit on the bed and help Shaw be penetrated by the vicar. The sex lasted five minutes. The victim was then told to put her clothes back on.’

The investigation began in October 2021 after the girl informed her teacher about the ordeal.

Following this, police arrested Clapham and found indecent images of the victim on his mobile phone, which were all saved in a specific folder.

In three of his four police interviews, he gave no comment.

Meanwhile, his mistress made full admissions and was said to have described their offending ‘in detail’. 

The vicar was suspended by the Bishop of Chester after the scandal came to light

Shaw outside court. Mitigating for Shaw, Miss Milena Bennett said that Shaw was having marriage problems, and: ‘She had not experienced any intimacy for a long time, so she went to her vicar for help’

In mitigating for Clapham, Miss Maria Messellis said: ‘He is well able to consider the insight into the longterm effect on of his actions on the victim and her wider family given his previous role in the church.

‘At 61 he is somebody who has held a position of esteem for many years, and the loss of that good character he will feel immensely. He was a productive family man, married to his wife for 38 years.

‘Outside of work, he has made a positive impact, helping homeless people and his parishioners. This had undoubtedly caused a fracturing in the family and his wife has bared the brunt. They have had to leave the area and have lost all but one couple in their friendship circle. The man in court today is not a man they recognise.’

Mitigating for Shaw, Miss Milena Bennett said: ‘She began attending the church when she started having marriage problems. She had not experienced any intimacy for a long time, so she went to her vicar for help. Clapham gave her that intimacy.

‘She has always been a follower, not a leader, and she followed Clapham in this case.’

In sentencing the pair for their actions, Judge Steven Everett said to Clapham: ‘You are a disgusting individual. I note your community work and positive impact on society prior to these offences, but will not take either of your previous good character in account. It was all disgusting. Truly disgusting.

‘But although, you had the lead role in this, I have no reason to treat you both differently. You were in it together and your shame shall be for ever.’

The pair will both have to sign the Sex Offender Register for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention order banning them from one-on-one contact with any child under 13.

After the hearing, the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner said: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been traumatised by these events, especially the victim of Steve Clapham’s actions. Their bravery and strength of character have helped to convict a perpetrator of child sexual abuse.

‘I cannot begin to express my shame and anger for the betrayal and pain that this young person has endured. I am sincerely sorry for what they have experienced and continue to live through.’