Vicar and daughter rebailed as probe into alleged neglect continues

A vicar and his daughter arrested and questioned on suspicion of child neglect have been rebailed by police.
Rev Jim PercivalRev Jim Percival
Rev Jim Percival

The Rev Jim Percival, 65, the vicar of Holy Trinity CE Church in Freckleton, and his daughter, Ruth, 29, were first arrested in December 2014 after police were called to the vicarage following a report that a woman had given birth to a stillborn baby.

Police said at the time following ‘numerous inquiries’, the death of the baby, called Jonathan Percival, was being treated as suspicious and the pair were initially questioned on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child.

They were later bailed pending further inquiries.

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And last month, Lancashire Police said the pair faced no further action in relation to the above allegations but had since been arrested and questioned on suspicion of child neglect.

A police spokeswoman said on Tuesday that both suspects had been further rebailed to April 13.

An inquest hearing is set to take place at Blackpool Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, March 2.