TWO brothers have described the moment they realised they were abused by the same man.

Phil and Gary Johnson were both abused by the Reverend Roy Cotton while they were members of the choir at St Andrew’s church in Eastbourne.

Cotton, who died in 2006, was never prosecuted, but the brothers’ case led to the prosecutions of several other clergy.

Theresa May, when she was Home Secretary, ordered a national inquiry into abuse cases by the clergy.

Phil Johnson said: “There was a story on the lunchtime news on the radio about an abusive vicar. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Gary froze. And the penny dropped in that moment.”

The brothers’ fight for justice ended 20 years ago, as they were told there were not enough independent witnesses to prosecute Cotton.