Dazed villagers today told of their shock after a churchman was accused of raping a boy. Rev Neville Husband was charged withof carrying out a series of sex acts on teenage boys and has been suspended from clergy duties. The 64-year-old could face jail after police charged him with a string of sex assaults including rape and indecent assault. Neighbours in Shotley Bridge, Co Durham, were staggered to hear of the allegations. A mum of two, who lives only doors away from Husband in Snows Green Road, said: "I am shocked to hear what has happened. "I know he has only been charged at the moment and nothing has been proven, but we are all pretty shocked about it," added the mum, who didn't want to be named. Another resident, who also wanted to stay anonymous, said: "It is a massive shock to all of the community. "You just don't expect accusations like this to happen on your doorstep, especially to someone of the church." The abuse is alleged to have taken place while Husband was on the catering staff at the former Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, in the 1970s and 1980s. Husband is accused of raping and indecently assaulting one boy and indecently assaulting two others. The married minister has been suspended from his duties at the Brighton Road United Reformed Methodist Church in Bensham, Gateshead. He is on conditional bail to appear before Chester-le-Street Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Husband has been minister of two churches in Gateshead since 1994. Brighton Road URC in Bensham has a membership of 28 with an average 15 attending Sunday worship. WhileCromer Avenue URC in Low Fell has 88 members, with around 70 attending the weekly service. David Lawrence, the church's national spokesman said: "In the rare event that a serious allegation is made in relation to a minister of the URC it is the practice of the Church to suspend the minister in question without prejudice until the result of any investigations become clear. "In accordance with that practice, when the Church learned that allegations had been made against Rev Husband, a minister of two local churches in the Northern Synod, he was immediately suspended without prejudice from his duties, though it is our understanding that he denies the allegations. "A minister under suspension may not act in the capacity of a minister of the URC and is relieved of his pastoral duties." The Church has no information about the investigation, other than what is in the public domain and it has not been approached by investigators for any information, he said. "The Church awaits the outcome of the legal process before a decision is made as to any further action is required," he added. | 
