Sheffield vicar told police he branded woman to end affair

Hilary Alflatt, formerly known as Malcolm Alflatt, is on trial at Hull Crown Court

A vicar accused of treating a woman as "a slave" told police he branded her with a cross-shaped mark in a bid to end their affair, a jury has heard.

Hilary Alflatt said he was "desperate" to escape their relationship and thought if he "caused her more pain she would leave me alone".

Prosecutors say he physically, mentally and sexually abused the woman from 1983 to 1992 while serving in Sheffield.

The 87-year-old is charged with assault and false imprisonment.

In police interviews read out at Hull Crown Court the retired vicar, of Harewood Lane, Northallerton, said the woman had become "hooked" on him after they met in the early 1980s.

He said at the time he was at a "low point" in his marriage and she had been "sympathetic" to him.

However, he said, as time passed she began "asking me to do things", including beating and tying her up.

He said: "I felt I had to keep her happy because I was in a relationship which, if it came out, would have destroyed my parish. She had a real hold over me."

'Brainwashed'

The woman, who cannot be named, told police Mr Alflatt, formerly known as Malcolm, had made her make "life vows" of poverty, obedience and chastity in order to control her life.

Mr Alflatt accepted asking her to make the vows but said he had done so hoping "she would leave me alone when I told her to".

He described claims he had "brainwashed" the woman as "nonsense", adding: "She never at any time raised any objection to anything I did."

Asked about branding his accuser on her arm and claims he locked her in a room at the vicarage, he said he had done it to try and end their relationship.

"I don't think it was acceptable, but I was desperate to be rid of her," he said.

Asked why he did not tell her the relationship was over he said he "did not think it would have made a difference".

Bishop gives evidence

Earlier, former Bishop of Sheffield John Nicholls said when he confronted Mr Alflatt about the claims in 1998 he had not denied the allegations and retired with immediate effect.

Asked by prosecution barrister Louise Reevells if he had accepted the resignation he said he had.

Mr Alflatt faces five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of false imprisonment.

He has been ruled unfit to plead, so jurors will not return verdicts on the case but must decide whether he committed the offences alleged.

The trial continues.