A VICTIM of abusive priest David Tudor has called for the archbishop of York to step down over his “insulting and upsetting” response to his handling of the case.

The anonymous woman questioned the “moral compass” of Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England’s second most senior bishop, saying the church “deserves better.”

The archbishop is under increased pressure following new revelations that Mr Tudor was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford.

Tudor’s victim said today on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “it is quite clear that he knew a great deal and I find it really insulting and upsetting that he has just said ‘oh, well, I feel regret,’ and I feel that he is backtracking considerably.

“Where is his moral compass? I really worry that someone who doesn’t have that is waiting in the wings to step in as the figurehead for the Church of England, and I think the church deserves better.”

Asked if Mr Cottrell should step down, she added: “I think he really must now, it’s got beyond apologies and sadly I wouldn’t have said that a week ago, but I’m saying that now.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Cottrell said he “acknowledges this could have been handled differently” but insisted all the risks were “regularly reviewed.”

Mr Cottrell is due to take on many of the archbishop of Canterbury’s official functions temporarily from January 6, when Mr Welby quits over failures in the handling of a separate sex abuse case in the church.