A MAN who claims he suffered years of mental abuse at the children's home run by dead paedophile priest, Eric Taylor, claims the church should do more to help victims.

Karl Bicknell says that while it is right that the Roman Catholic Church should show forgiveness towards Taylor, he is disappointed that attempts to tell his story have met with limited response.

Taylor, who spent time in Worcester in the 70s, died in prison earlier this month, while serving a seven-year sentence for 18 offences against children.

Branded "a disgrace to his cloth" by the trial judge, he was due to go before a parole board within the next few weeks, having served nearly half of his sentence.

Mr Bicknell, of Callow End, near Worcester, says he has spent months trying to arrange a meeting with the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols.

The Archbishop appealed for victims of abuse at the home to come forward when Taylor was defrocked.

After requesting a response to previously sent information last February, he received no response until he wrote to the Archbishop's office again in June.

An appointment was then made but Mr Bicknell was unable to attend. Now, he is hoping to arrange another appointment.

Mr Bicknell claims he suffered years of mental distress at the Father Hudson Orphanage in Coleshill, Warwickshire, where he was misinformed about his background and deprived of the opportunity to be fostered.

"It is all very well the Roman Catholic church saying that they will pray for forgiveness and show compassion towards Eric Taylor, but what about the way that they treat victims?" he said.

"I think forgiving him is the right thing to do, but his victims and other victims like me should also be considered.

"My attempts to contact the Archbishop have taken months.

"When I finally wrote a more strongly-worded letter they responded, but that was months down the line.

"That isn't fair treatment. They can't just brush the bad stuff under the carpet."

Mr Bicknell wants other victims to contact him to help present a case to the Archbishop.

"I was a generation after the sexual abuse victims but other people who have suffered mental and emotional abuse need to be heard as well."

Mr Bicknell can be contacted on 07799 302785.

The Archbishop was considering his response today as the Evening News went to press.