A paedophile priest has been banned from ministerial practice for life, the Diocese of Chichester has confirmed.

Keith ‘Wilkie’ Denford, of Broad Reach Mews, Shoreham was last year convicted of three counts of indecent assault against two boys between January 1987 and January 1990 and cleared of one count of the same charge.

He was jailed for 18 months.

Now the Diocese has said he will not practice again.

A statement said: “The Diocese of Chichester has confirmed the most severe sanction possible, under the Clergy Discipline Measure, has been served on Mr Keith (Wilkie) Denford.

“Mr Denford will be banned from ministerial practice for life.

“Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings and a subsequent statutory disciplinary process under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, sentences of prohibition for life from exercising any functions of ordained ministry within the Church of England have been imposed upon the Reverend Keith (Wilkie) Denford.

“The sentences are imposed under Section 30 of the Clergy Discipline Measure following the respondents’ convictions and imprisonment for a series of indecent assaults, including offences against minors.”