A vicar in Lincoln has been banned from driving for two years after crashing the Bishop of Lincoln's car while drunk.
Fr Sion Hughes Carew was arrested at the scene near Lincoln Cathedral after the vehicle crashed into a parked car and ended up on a pavement.
The 40 year old who is priest in charge at All Saints and St Mary le Wigford, had reportedly been socialising at the Bishops' Palace before the crash. It happened on a Friday evening last month at around 11pm.
He pleaded guilty to drink driving while almost three times the legal limit , and was fined £873 fine and ordered to pay £434 in court fees.
The parked car which was a write-off, belonged to Brian Meagher, the partner of actress Heather Bell, who plays Clarrie Grundy in Radio 4’s The Archers. She told the Daily Mail: “It was a hell of an accident, but the driver seemed so calm as he walked up and down on his phone the whole time – though he must have been terrified of the consequences.” She added : “It's the story of the actress and the bishop.”
Mr Meagher said: “I would say it’s no way for a vicar to behave, but it’s no way for anyone to behave.”
A spokesman for the Diocese of Lincoln said: ‘A formal disciplinary process is under way for the Reverend Sion Hughes Carew.
"The Bishop of Lincoln had no knowledge of the car being taken and did not give permission."