I was sexually abused by a vicar aged just 9, says Nadine Dorries – as she vows to seek justice amid church scandal
FORMER MP Nadine Dorries has said she was sexually abused by a vicar aged just 9 - vowing to battle for justice amid the church abuse scandal.
Dorries has spoken out after the Makin Review found that prolific abuser John Smyth might have faced justice if Church of England officials had alerted authorities in 2013.
Last week Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation over his handling of the abuse case.
Smyth, who was a lay reader and led Christian summer camps, died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018.
He was under investigation by Hampshire Police and was "never brought to justice for the abuse", the review published last week said.
Dorries has now bravely recounted her own experience of abuse by another Church of England vicar, Reverend Jim Cameron.
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Writing in the , Dorries said: "The Smyth case has also prompted me to resume my own battle for justice – or at least acknowledgement – for the crimes perpetrated against me and others more than half a century ago by a so-called man of God.
"I was nine years old when I was repeatedly abused by our Anglican vicar William James Cameron – better known locally as Reverend Jim Cameron – at St Mary's Anglican Church in Halewood, Merseyside.
"It wasn't until I was in my 50s that I started coming to terms with it through my writing, although I didn't realise that at the time."
Cameron died in 2012 without facing justice for his crimes.
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Dorries said she once saw him driving around her council estate with a "terrified"; young girl in the front seat.
She said but she wanted to help the girl - but was herself just nine years old.
Dorries also recalled how Cameron left Merseyside to work in Leeds, bragging that he knew Jimmy Saville.
Her parents were told he was working in New York - but he had actually been moved to rural Norfolk.
Dorries suspects the move may have been a bid by CofE officials to keep the abuser away from young girls.
After becoming a high-profile Tory MP, Dorries raised a complaint and met three bishops in the House of Lords.
But Dorries said she never heard another word from the three bishops and her complaint was "shut down".
She has now vowed to consult a solicitor in a bid to finally get justice and an "official acknowledgement".
It comes after the Makin Review laid bare the failures of Church of England officials including Welby to stop John Smyth's reign of terror.
Smyth abused around 130 boys and young men - and is thought to be the most prolific abuser associated with the Church of England.
Some of his victims have called for further resignations from senior clergy members involved in the scandal.
Smyth's reign of terror lasted five decades in three different countries - targeting as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa.
He subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.
He died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and was "never brought to justice for the abuse", the review said.
The Telegraph newspaper reported that the Church's National Safeguarding Team is looking into the actions of at least 30 officials named in the report.
Last week Justin Welby acknowledged the review found that he had "personally failed to ensure" it was "energetically investigated".
In a statement issued by Lambeth Palace, Mr Welby said: "Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
"The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
"When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
"It is my duty to honour my constitutional and church responsibilities.
"So exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.
"I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.
"As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.
"The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.
"For nearly 12 years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.
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"In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims.
"I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete."
Why did Justin Welby resign?
JUSTIN Welby knew Smyth because of his attendance at Iwerne Christian camps in the 1970s.
But the review said there was no evidence that he had "maintained any significant contact" with the barrister in later years.
The 105th Archbishop of Canterbury said he had "no idea or suspicion of this abuse" before 2013.
Over five decades between the 1970s until his death, Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.
The report said Smyth "could and should have been formally reported to the police in the UK, and to authorities in South Africa (church authorities and potentially the police) by church officers, including a diocesan bishop and Justin Welby in 2013''.
When the Makin report was published, Mr Welby admitted he had considered resigning but decided not to after taking advice from "senior colleagues".
