Prison chaplain suspended after crack smoking admission

A London prison chaplain has been suspended after admitting he smokes crack cocaine, according to a report.

The Rev Robert Pearson, 54, a Church of England chaplain at Pentonville prison, has been filmed allegedly visiting a crack den in Wood Green.

A newspaper report said that when confronted by a video showing him heating the highly addictive drug before inhaling it from a pipe, Mr Pearson admitted: "It's true, I can't make any excuses. It's a stupid sodding thing to do."

He reportedly takes the drug at a housing association flat in Wood Green where the users call him "Father".

His most recent visit to the flat came after holding a Remembrance Day service at Pentonville.

The chain-smoking clergyman, who is said to have befriended the troubled rock singer Pete Doherty when he was held at Pentonville on drug offences, now faces the sack as well as losing his prison-owned home.

He moved to work at Pentonville four years ago after working at Wandsworth jail in south London.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a member of the chaplaincy at HMP Pentonville has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour."

The Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Rev Stephen Oliver, said: "I have spoken to the chaplain involved and am aware of the seriousness of the situation.

"In instances such as this, once any criminal process has been worked through, complaints are dealt with by the diocesan bishop under the Clergy Discipline Measure."

Copyright Press Association 2006.