Shamed vicar is evicted
A former West Bromwich vicar who was sacked after having an affair with a parishioner was today given 28 days to leave his church-owned home.
Patrick Okechi was barred from office last December by a tribunal over the affair while he was the vicar at the Church of Good Shepherd with St John.
Since his dismissal Mr Okechi has refused to move out of the vicarage in Bromford Lane and lodged a claim for reinstatement with the employment tribunal.
The Bishops of Lichfield and Wolverhampton and the archdeacon of Walsall took legal proceedings to regain the property and today district judge Simon Bull granted them possession of the vicarage at a hearing at Birmingham County Court.
He had earlier ordered the diocese to prove that the bishops and archdeacon had the right to seek possession but today said he was satisfied this was the case.
Mr Okechi told the hearing: "We are talking about five human beings, husband, wife and three children. I have no alternative home."
He said he had been to the council and had viewed 64 properties in an effort to find a new family home.
The district judge gave the family more time after hearing Mr Okechi had children aged 10 and 17 who were sitting exams.
