Indecent assault vicar sentenced

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/7354413.stm

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A vicar from Worcester who admitted indecently assaulting a teenage girl has been given a three-year community rehabilitation order.

Nduna Mpunzi, 61, of Tolladine Road, was the vicar of St Barnabus in Rainbow Hill and Christ Church in Tolladine between September 2004 and August 2007.

Mpunzi also admitted assault by beating and common assault.

The judge at Worcester Crown Court also ordered him to take part in a sex offenders' programme.

Mpunzi told Worcester Crown Court he groped the teenager between May and June 2002, while the other two charges related to incidents in 2007.

Mpunzi was sentenced on Thursday for the indecent assault with no separate penalties for other charges.

He was placed on a programme "aimed at changing offender behaviour" and ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

Mpunzi was suspended in August 2007 when the allegations first came to light and remains suspended.