In a significant development involving a former church leader and his spouse, South Yorkshire Police have formally charged Stephen Timmis and his wife, Janet, with rape. The charges pertain to allegations involving a single individual.
Stephen Timmis, 68, alongside Janet Timmis, 61, are both residents of Sheffield. They face eight charges each, all linked to incidents alleged to have occurred from May to September 2008. During this period, Stephen Timmis held a leadership position at The Crowded House Church in Sheffield.
The accused have been granted bail and are expected to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 1 December 2026.
South Yorkshire Police, in a statement released on Thursday, detailed that these charges were a result of an investigation into historical sexual abuse claims.
The police have reached out to the community for assistance. “Our enquiries have led us to believe there may be individuals in the community, who may have previously been members of the church, with information which could be relevant to our investigation,” the statement read.
The authorities have assured that any individual coming forward with information will receive necessary support.
If you have any concerns or possess relevant information, you are urged to contact South Yorkshire Police by dialing 101 or using their online reporting system, referencing investigation number 14/229723/24.
Support for those affected by issues discussed in this article is available at Safe Spaces England and Wales
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
