A VILLAGE vicar will remain suspended from his parish until prosecutors decide whether to call for a retrial over a single sexual offence on a child.

Reverend Peter Jarvis was cleared of 11 out of 12 sexual offences against children by a jury at Reading Crown Court yesterday.

But because the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can still to apply for a retrial on the final count the Bishop of Reading Andrew Proud has said he can not return to his parish until a final decision is made.

Bishop Proud added: “We heard the news today that the Rev Peter Jarvis has been acquitted on all but one of the charges against him. This will no doubt be a great relief for him and his family.

“The Diocese of Oxford takes safeguarding, especially of children and young people, very seriously and we expect the highest standards of conduct from all of our clergy.

“We have worked closely with the police and local authority colleagues on this case and will continue to do so.

“Meanwhile we are praying for all those involved in this sad case.”

The jury of seven women and men found the 50-year-old, of Clares Green Road in Spencers Wood, not guilty of seven counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three count of sexual activity with a child and one of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

But after around eight hours of deliberation the jury could not reach a verdict on one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and was discharged yesterday.

The rector of Loddon Reach Benefice, whose congregation comes from Spencers Wood, Swallowfield, Shinfield and Beech Hill, denied all 12 charges which relate to four children from Newbury and Thatcham and spanned three years between 2008 and 2011.

He will appear at the same court next Thursday to hear the CPS's case.