A paedophile priest high on crystal meth told how he wanted to sacrifice babies to Satan.

Vicar David Renshaw, 63, boasted about corrupting boys with drugs and enjoyed watching animal porn.

A jury found Renshaw guilty after hearing that he had more than 22,000 files of indecent images and videos on a hard drive.

Police found rotting dead animals, used needles and drug pipes when they raided his parish home, with the RSPCA seizing severely malnourished dogs, cats and chickens.

Renshaw, of Wallace Avenue in Worthing, told other paedophiles online: “I’m a sadistic bastard. Through and f****** through.”

Renshaw, a former chaplain in a youth offender unit, also wrote “I love corrupting boys with drugs” and discussed flying to Indiana in America to meet a 12-year-old boy and “slam” him with crystal meth.

The reverend also asked one other user to offer his three-year-old to Satan, with other chats also involving sacrificing babies to the devil.

The jury heard in Hove Crown Court that the Reverend said he had few limits and could sink really low.

The Argus: David Renshaw outside Hove Crown CourtDavid Renshaw outside Hove Crown Court (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

The court heard it would have taken months to download all the images and video found on the hard drive. Each clip had been catalogued and filed in folders with names like Kids and Gay Kids.

Police also found dozens of porn DVDs when they searched his house.

The Church of England vicar tried to claim he would not have had time to download all the images and video, telling police: “Sermons don’t write themselves.”

After his crimes were discovered, Renshaw tried to frame his own sons telling police they had access to his computers.

In statements read to the court, his sons said they were saddened and disappointed their own father named them as potential suspects.

The jury in Hove found Renshaw guilty of six counts of making and possessing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornographic images of bestiality and possession of prohibited images of children.

The Argus: A mugshot of RenshawA mugshot of Renshaw (Image: Sussex Police)

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant David Rose, said: “Throughout this investigation, Renshaw has sought to blame anyone but himself.

“He has failed to accept or take any responsibility for his actions, which I am certain the local parish he represented would be appalled by.

“The search of his address was one of the most revolting tasks our officers will ever have to endure.

“As well as malnourished living animals, there was also a dead rotting kitten and a dead rotting rat on the floor, in addition to used needles and other drug paraphernalia lying around.

“It was a deeply unpleasant scene to search.


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“It was also a particularly harrowing experience for the officer who had to sift through and grade each image, something that will stay with him for the rest of his life.”

Members of the jury were offered counselling after listening to graphic descriptions of the downloads.

Renshaw was ordained in the Diocese of Lichfield in 1985 and made priest in charge of Christ Church in Grafton Road in Worthing in December 2019.

He was on long term sick leave and in hospital when police raided his home on August 11, 2020.

The Argus: Christ Church in WorthingChrist Church in Worthing (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

He was cautioned by police for possession of Class A and B drugs in May 2021.

In response to the convictions, a spokeswoman for The Diocese of Chichester said: “We are aware that David Renshaw, vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ Church Worthing, was today found guilty of eight offences of possession of indecent images of children. He is awaiting sentencing.

"Sussex Police contacted the Diocese of Chichester’s safeguarding team in June 2020 to inform them that Mr Renshaw was being investigated in relation to these matters.

"The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, suspended Mr Renshaw under the clergy discipline measure immediately following the execution of a warrant at Mr Renshaw’s address.

"He has not been in active ministry since then. The diocese has cooperated closely with Sussex Police throughout this investigation.

"Mr Renshaw’s appalling offences involved the possession of thousands of obscene images.

"Following his conviction, further action will now be taken against him under the Ccergy discipline measure.

"Bishop Warner recognises the duty of care to the parish and will continue to offer pastoral support."

Renshaw is due to be sentenced next month.